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"What is it?  Winter vomiting disease is a stomach bug caused by a group of viruses called noroviruses. Noroviruses are highly contagious and the most common cause of stomach infection in the UK, with estimates of 600,000 to one million cases each year. Other names for noroviruses are &amp;#039;small round structured viruses&amp;#039; (SRSV) or &amp;#039;Norwalk-like viruses&amp;#039;. What are the symptoms?   Sudden nausea and projectile vomiting. Watery diarrhoea. Fever. Stomach cramps. Headache. Aching limbs.   The virus takes between 12 and 48 hours to take hold after infection, followed by symptoms that last up to three days. A person is still contagious 48 hours after symptoms have cleared. Who is at risk?  You can get norovirus illness at any age and at any time of the year. It tends to be more common in winter, hence the name. Outbreaks are more common in semi-closed environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships. How is norovirus spread?  Norovirus is easily spread from person to person, usually after contact with an infected person or surface that has been contaminated with the virus. Faecal matter from the infected person contains the virus, meaning it can be found on toilet seats, handles etc. You can also get the virus from contaminated food and water, particularly bivalve molluscs (oysters, mussels, clams, cockles and scallops). How is norovirus treated?  There is no specific treatment for the virus but to let the illness run its course. While the symptoms are not pleasant, most people make a full recovery within a few days. Both vomiting and diarrhoea cause loss of water from the body. This means you need to drink plenty of liquids to replace lost fluids. Antidiarrhoeal medicines such as loperamide (eg Diocalm Ultra, Imodium) can ease symptoms, while soluble paracetamol can help aches and pains. Loperamide is not suitable for children. Rehydration sachets (eg Dioralyte, Electrolade) that you add to water are a child-friendly treatment for diarrhoea. If you become very dehydrated, you may need hospital treatment. Very young children and the elderly are at most risk of dehydration. Because it is highly contagious, the best thing is to stay at home and away from public places \u2013 including your doctor&amp;#039;s surgery. You should also disinfect all surfaces that have been contaminated by the virus such as toilets, bedding and walls. What can be done to prevent norovirus?  The best way to protect yourself is to practise good hygiene:  wash your hands after using the toilet disinfect any surface that&amp;#039;s been contaminated with vomit or diarrhoea from the illness don&amp;#039;t prepare food for others until three days after symptoms clear cleaners should wear gloves when disinfecting washrooms and toilets.   Can you get it again?  Yes, it is possible to get the infection several times. This is because there are many different types of norovirus and immunity after an infection only lasts for 14 weeks. Are there any implications in the long term?  Noroviruses don&amp;#039;t have any long-term effects on health. Other people read: Diarrhoea: what are the warning signs? Viruses and bacteria: how to avoid infection. Children and vomiting: how can dehydration be prevented? Travellers&amp;#039; diarrhoea: factors affecting infection and general prevention.   Based on a text by Rebecca Sheasby, health journalist  Last updated 06.05.2015 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/conditions/digestive-health/a4926/winter-vomiting-disease/>