gastroenteritis ( Norwalk virus )

Last reviewed 01/2018

  • causes an acute gastroenteritis with watery diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and myalgia lasting 24-48 hours. Symptoms develop about 48 hours after infection with Norwalk virus. May also be abdominal cramps and low-grade fever. Patients will feel very unwell for up to 48 hours; however serious complications (and rarely death), in general, only occur if patient is debilitated by a concomitant pathology or patient is elderly and frail.

  • Norwalk virus named after the city in Ohio where the first identified outbreak occurred

  • virus is shed in vomitus and faeces. Transmission is via faecal-oral route via contaminated food, water and infected contacts

  • Management:
    • investigations are rarely necessary because illness resolves spontaneously after about 48 hours
      • U+Es if dehydration suspected
      • stool M,C,S
    • treatment with oral rehydration therapy is generally only intervention that is required
    • anti-diarrhoeal therapies are not recommended
    • prevention of spread - education about mode of transmission, hand washing is essential; disposal of potentially infected material

Reference:

  1. GP magazine (17/11/03), 57.