Norovirus and rotavirus share many similarities. They cause many of the same symptoms, affect people of any age, and have a similar duration of symptoms. Often, the only means of diagnosis is through a stool sample test.
What should parents know about the difference between the flu, norovirus and rotavirus? Norovirus is the virus that causes the “stomach bug.” It causes vomiting and diarrhea and can affect anyone. Rotavirus most often affects infants and young children. It can cause fever, watery diarrhea and vomiting.
The most common symptoms of rotavirus are severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and/or abdominal pain. Symptoms usually start about two days after a person is exposed to rotavirus. Vomiting and watery diarrhea can last three to eight days.
How is rotavirus diagnosed? Rotavirus can be detected in stool specimens from children with gastroenteritis by several techniques, including electron microscopy, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, antigen detection assays, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and virus isolation.
Anyone caring for small children should know the symptoms of rotavirus, including: Frequent, watery diarrhea (often foul-smelling, green or brown)
Most stomach bugs are always followed by pale stools or diarrhoea. If you're experiencing either of these symptoms, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. Why do people get stomach bugs? Stomach bugs, also known as gastroenteritis, are caused by a variety of viruses, bacteria, and parasites.
There's no specific treatment for a rotavirus infection. Antibiotics and antivirals won't help a rotavirus infection. Usually, the infection resolves within three to seven days.
How long is a person with rotavirus contagious? Infected persons shed large quantities of virus in their stool beginning 2 days before the onset of diar- rhea and for up to 10 days after onset of symptoms.
A rotavirus infection usually starts within two days of exposure to the virus. Early symptoms are a fever and vomiting, followed by three to seven days of watery diarrhea. The infection can cause abdominal pain as well. In healthy adults, a rotavirus infection may cause only mild signs and symptoms or none at all.
Since rotavirus disease can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, it can lead to dehydration (loss of body fluids). The best way to protect against dehydration is to drink plenty of liquids. You can get oral rehydration solutions over the counter in U.S. food and drug stores; these are most helpful for mild dehydration.
Symptoms usually begin 1 or 2 days after ingesting the virus, but may appear as early as 12 hours after exposure. The illness typically comes on suddenly. The infected person may feel very sick and vomit often, sometimes without warning, many times a day.
They can range from mild to severe. The most common symptoms of rotavirus include: Nausea and vomiting. Watery diarrhea that occurs often and may last from 3 to 8 days.
Duration of symptoms: Norovirus symptoms don't last as long, about one to three days; whereas rotavirus infections linger longer, for about three to eight days.
Make household bleach solution
To disinfect, you should use a chlorine bleach solution with a concentration of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm (5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach [5% to 8%] per gallon of water) or use an EPA-registered disinfecting product against norovirus.
The virus can remain in your stool for up to two weeks or more after recovery. Children should stay home from school or child care for at least 48 hours after the last time they vomit or have diarrhea. Rotavirus.
Rotavirus spreads easily among infants and young children.
They can spread rotavirus to family members and other people with whom they have close contact. Children are most likely to get rotavirus in the winter and spring (January through June).
Rotavirus is a common infection in young children in Australia. Most children have at least one infection before three years of age.
Treatment of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis
Although often recommended, there is no need to limit the diet to bland foods such as cereal, gelatin, bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
Diligent cleaning should continue for up to three days after the illness ends. A chlorine bleach solution is the best way to disinfect nonporous surfaces. Consider wearing gloves and protective eyewear when using strong bleach solutions and to protect against the splash or spray of potentially infectious materials.
Watery, usually nonbloody diarrhea — bloody diarrhea usually means you have a different, more severe infection. Nausea, vomiting or both. Stomach cramps and pain.
Consult your health care provider if you're concerned about your stool color. If your stool is bright red or black — which may indicate the presence of blood — seek prompt medical attention. Food may be moving through the large intestine too quickly, such as due to diarrhea.
Yellow diarrhea can mean several things. It could be caused by a problem with one of your digestive organs, including your liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. It could also be caused by a germ, like a bacteria or virus, or a parasite.