From the Guidelines
Norovirus infection typically lasts 1-3 days in most healthy individuals. Symptoms usually begin 12-48 hours after exposure and include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, and sometimes low-grade fever 1. While the acute illness is short-lived, it's essential to note that people can continue shedding the virus in their stool for an average of 4 weeks following infection, with peak viral shedding occurring 2–5 days after infection 1. This means they can still spread the infection even when feeling better.
Key Points to Consider
- The duration of norovirus infection can be longer in certain individuals, such as young children, elderly persons, and hospitalized patients, lasting up to 4-6 days 1.
- There is no specific medication to treat norovirus, as antibiotics don't work against viruses.
- Management focuses on preventing dehydration through oral rehydration with water, sports drinks, or oral rehydration solutions.
- Most people recover completely without medical intervention, but some may experience more severe or prolonged illness.
- The short duration of norovirus is due to the body's immune response, which effectively fights off the virus, though this immunity is typically short-lived and strain-specific, meaning you can get norovirus multiple times throughout your life 1.
Additional Considerations
- Norovirus can be detected in stool for an average of 4 weeks following infection, although it is unclear if detection of virus alone indicates a risk for transmission 1.
- Asymptomatic persons can shed virus, albeit at lower titers than symptomatic persons, and the role of asymptomatic infection in transmission and outbreaks of norovirus remains unclear 1.
From the Research
Duration of Norovirus Infection
The duration of norovirus infection can vary, but there are several key factors to consider:
- The virus is highly contagious and can be shed in the stool of infected individuals for several weeks after recovery 2
- Prolonged viral shedding is a significant factor in the transmissibility of norovirus 2
- The exact duration of norovirus infection is not explicitly stated in the available studies, but it is known that the virus can cause asymptomatic cases or gastrointestinal disease 3
- In general, norovirus infections typically last for several days to a week, but some individuals may experience longer or shorter durations of illness
Factors Influencing Duration
Several factors can influence the duration of norovirus infection, including:
- The strain of the virus: some strains, such as GII.4, may cause more severe illness and longer durations of infection 3
- The individual's immune status: people with weakened immune systems may be more susceptible to severe and prolonged illness 3
- The presence of underlying health conditions: certain health conditions may increase the risk of complications and longer durations of illness
Control Measures
While there are no specific control measures against norovirus, common practices such as hand washing can help prevent the spread of the virus 3, 2
- Prompt implementation of infection control measures is crucial in managing norovirus outbreaks 2