Norovirus in Children: What is this virus you speak of?
Noroviruses are a diverse group of viruses in the Calicivirus family that cause acute gastroenteritis. The name of the virus comes from the location where the first known outbreak occurred. Gastroenteritis is a fancy name for a stomach bug. These illnesses cause vomiting and diarrhea symptoms in both kids and adults. Norovirus in children is a cause for great concern among parents.
As pediatricians, we rarely test for a specific virus or bacteria when your child has a self limited vomiting and diarrhea illness. However, often Norovirus is one of the most common causes of these illnesses, especially in the winter months.
Norovirus in Children: What are the symptoms?
Noroviruses symptoms are very similar across all age groups, but children are slightly more likely than adults to have vomiting as the main symptom, while adults may experience more diarrhea.
Norovirus is usually accompanied by these symptoms:
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Watery diarrhea
- Sudden onset of illness
- Stomach cramps
- Mild fever
- Body aches
Symptoms usually appear 24–48 hours after exposure and last for up to three days. Norovirus can spread for several days even after people feel better.
What’s the biggest danger from Norovirus in children?
Dehydration is the most serious complication of any acute gastroenteritis. Vomiting is more likely to cause dehydration in a child than diarrhea, but both can lead to this complication. Younger children are more likely to experience dehydration than older children because it is often more difficult to get them to drink while they are not feeling well.
What are the signs of dehydration?
Dehydration may be indicated by a dry mouth with sticky saliva; crying without tears; or no urination for more than four to six hours for infants and young children, or more than ten to twelve hours for older children. If you call your pediatrician during a vomiting illness, he or she will want to know how many times per day that your child is urinating. Keeping track of wet diapers or trips to the bathroom are important while your child has gastro.
Dehydrated children can also be very cranky and fussy. They can also be very sleepy. If you are having trouble waking your child up or keeping him awake long enough to drink something, it may be time to involve your child’s pediatrician or head to the emergency room.
What can I do to help my child feel better if he has Norovirus?
The biggest thing that you can do is to encourage your child to sip small amounts of fluid over time during the acute vomiting phase of the illness. Pedialyte, popsicles, and teaspoons full of water are all great ways to begin the rehydration process when your child is still feeling badly.
Increasing their fluid intake by giving them water, pedialyte, or anything else they want to drink is important once the acute phase of vomiting is mostly over. It is okay if your child does not want to eat during these first couple of days of their illness. It is most important to get them to drink fluids in order to stay hydrated.
Pedialyte or other oral rehydrating solutions have electrolytes and glucose that will help your child to feel better sooner.
Avoid fruit juices because they will make diarrhea worse.
How is Norovirus spread among Children?
Norovirus is very contagious and therefore spreads very quickly. It can move through an entire household in a matter of days. This virus is also the source of vomiting and diarrhea misery on cruise ships. It is a common cause of outbreaks in childcare facilities and schools as well.
You can catch Norovirus from:
- Close contact with someone that has the virus
- Touching surfaces or objects (fomites) that have the virus on them, then touching your eyes, mouth or nose
- Eating food that’s been prepared or handled by someone with Norovirus that hasn’t washed their hands well before handling your food (ew, gross!)
- Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is the best way to stop it spreading. (Hand sanitizer is no match for this contagious virus)
Concluding thoughts about Norovirus in Children
Children get about one to two vomiting and diarrhea illnesses per year. They are especially susceptible if they spend their days with other children in a daycare or school setting. Teaching kids to wash their hands with soap and water before eating will help prevent some of these battles with gastroenteritis as well as other viral infections.
Some kids will have sensitivity to milk and milk products after recovering from an acute gastroenteritis. The enzyme that helps you to digest lactose gets wiped out when the intestinal lining is shedding during diarrhea. This is a temporary and mild post viral complication that gets better with time.
If your infant or young baby has gastroenteritis, continuing to breastfeed them or give them some formula will help their gut to heal faster. You can give pedialyte during the acute phase, but return to breastmilk or formula as soon as you can.
Gastroenteritis is no fun. It is the dread of most parents’ existence. Thankfully, for the majority of kids, this illness can be treated at home by their loving parents and does not need the involvement of your pediatrician. As an at home pediatrician, I can often help parents navigate these illnesses over the phone.
© 127 Pediatrics, April 2022, 33 Main Street, Suite 160, Colleyville, TX 76034
Dr. Andrea Wadley is a pediatrician located in Dallas/Fort Worth serving families with pediatrician house calls. As a wife and mother, her posts are written with parents in mind, whether you need help with a picky eater, need to find places where kids eat free or want to know more about topics like breastfeeding and lactation.
