From the Guidelines
The prognosis for norovirus infection is generally excellent, with most people recovering completely within 1-3 days without specific treatment. Norovirus is a self-limiting illness that causes acute gastroenteritis with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sometimes low-grade fever 1. The main treatment involves supportive care focused on preventing dehydration through oral rehydration with water, sports drinks, or oral rehydration solutions. No specific antiviral medications exist for norovirus, and antibiotics are ineffective since it's a viral infection. While most people recover quickly, certain populations including:
- Young children
- Elderly adults
- Immunocompromised individuals may experience more severe symptoms and are at higher risk for complications like dehydration 1. These high-risk groups may occasionally require hospitalization for intravenous fluids. Some potential complications of norovirus infection include:
- Necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates
- Chronic diarrhea in immunosuppressed patients
- Postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome although more data from analytic studies are needed to confirm a causal link with these conditions 1. The virus spreads very easily through contaminated food, water, surfaces, and direct contact with infected individuals, so proper hand hygiene and disinfection of contaminated surfaces with bleach-based cleaners are essential to prevent transmission to others during and after illness.
From the Research
Prognosis for Norovirus
- The prognosis for norovirus is generally good, with most people recovering from the infection within 24-48 hours 2.
- However, for immunocompromised patients, norovirus gastroenteritis can last for several years and result in severe malnutrition, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and continuous viral shedding 2.
- The virus can cause substantial morbidity across both healthcare and community settings, and its transmission can be enhanced by several factors, including the small inoculum required to produce infection and prolonged viral shedding 3.
- In terms of treatment, several strategies have been suggested, including nitazoxanide, ribavirin, and enterally administered immunoglobulin, but more research is needed to determine their effectiveness 2.
- For pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis, ondansetron use and oral rehydration instructions can help decrease the need for intravenous fluids, reduce hospitalizations, and shorten illness duration 4.
- Overall, prompt implementation of infection control measures remains the mainstay of norovirus outbreak management, and further research is needed to develop effective control measures and vaccines against the virus 5, 3.