A New Year’s Norovirus “Cleanse”

Thursday I tended to my mother who had what I presumed was norovirus. In the middle of the night she had developed diarrhea and later the next day vomiting. She had a low grade temperature of 100F and very little energy. I kept a safe distance but did empty her vomit pot (AKA emesis basin).  CDC guidelines were followed in that I washed my hands very thoroughly before leaving the house and then again when I got home. Norovirus can live on surfaces-door handles, light switches, etc for 2+ weeks.  I have since learned that it can be readily aerosolized and thereby transmitted by being in proximity to someone vomiting or a flushed toilet (as happens when emptying a vomit pot).

By the next morning I had altered bowel habits. Perhaps being in denial, I made the assumption it was my diet of bean soup and dried figs the night before and brazenly consumed my morning coffee and wholegrain cereal with blueberries, a decision that turned out to be wasteful as 4 hours later it all came up.

The good thing about norovirus and most other causes of gastroenteritis is that symptoms abate after 24-36 hours.  However, those symptoms, especially for the elderly, can be debilitating due to dehydration. Signs of dehydration include feeling dizzy on standing, decreased or absent urination, a dry mouth. My stepfather who is 87 caught the virus the next day. He was unable to keep liquids down and his pulse rose and he felt dizzy. I was concerned that he might fall in route to the bathroom or faint. There is no antibiotic treatment for norovirus as it is a virus.  The primary treatment is rehydration; sometimes intravenous fluids are necessary.  Thankfully, in the case of my stepfather, he was able to keep sips of ginger-ale and water down and is now slowly recovering.

What is a helpful shopping list for norovirus?  Water, ginger-ale or  oral rehydration solutions (ORS) such as Pedialyte. ORS contain the right ratio of water, sugar and salt to help promote rapid absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.  I found pepto-bismal to be soothing to my acidic feeling stomach. Ginger-ale tasted really good after vomiting. Having Depends on hand are invaluable, especially in the elderly as they can save you from soiling linens as well as the risk of a fall when you are running to the toilet in a dehydrated state. 

Norovirus is highly contagious. The CDC states that 18 viral particles will render you sick, a pinhead’s worth of virus will fell 1000. The virus is famous for waylaying cruise ship passengers. You are highly infectious the days you’re symptomatic and 2-3 days thereafter. Virus can be shed in your stool up to 2 weeks thereafter. Food preparers are advised to stop working for at least 48 hours after resolution of symptoms.  For this reason, I opted to quarantine myself for several days and have now bleach washed the multitude of surfaces in my home and done 4 loads of laundry. 

Having it once does not provide immunity. There are many strains of norovirus. Immunity for the same strain of virus apparently does not persist.

Today I am better and the wind felt good on my face as I walked around my neighborhood. I have passively accomplished a New Year’s resolution of colon cleanse and associated weight loss and am grateful to have it behind me.

 Leon, Juan (2008). “Chapter 9.” In Vajdy, Michael. Immunity Against Mucosal Pathogens. Springer. p.232. ISBN9781402084126.

http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/overview.html

http://www.wsj.com/articles/what-is-the-best-drink-to-help-ease-nausea-1448299763