Is There Any Stomach Bugs Going Around

‘weird Stomach Virus’ That Isn’t Covid Making Everyone Sick Or Have Diarrhoea

‘I had the worst stomach pain of my life for a week, honestly felt like Id been stabbed with molten steel’

If a new variant of Covid-19 wasnt enough to worry Londoners, some people are now reporting a new weird stomach virus going around that makes you poo and vomit.

Omicrons grip on the capital city has caused Covid cases to rocket in recent weeks, but it looks like there might be another virus joining the party.

Taking to Reddit, many Londoners have reported horrendous diarrhoea and vomiting.

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One Londoner asked: Any Londoners had this stomach virus going around?

Had pure watery diarrhoea for nearly a week, every time I eat I end up on the loo.

In reply, another said: Ive had this. It was the worst the world was literally flying out my a**e whilst I was being sick into the sink, I would not recommend it at all.

Edit: I had Covid a month ago then two weeks after I had this. My arse was so painful after two days I had to bite a towel just to take a s***e.

In response, the original poster said: Just literally diarrhoea like pure water, like turning a tap on, mainly every time after Ive eaten. Felt a bit achy too.

Another user described their Christmas illness: Started on Christmas Eve. Woke up feeling sick. Initially I thought I was hungover .

Had a McD’s breakfast on Xmas Eve. Still felt nauseous all day.

How Do You Know If An Upset Stomach Is A Covid Symptom

When you or your kids throw up or have diarrhea, itâs easy to brush it off as a typical stomach bug or just something you ate. After all, norovirus is highly contagious and extremely common, according to the Centers For Disease Control. The CDC website states that ânorovirus is the most common cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and foodborne illness.â

As it turns out, a Covid test is the only way to determine if that pesky âstomach bugâ is actually a BA.2 infection. Plus, with and a vaccine for the under 5 age group still in the works, community spread is still a looming concern.

âThis variant is not necessarily any more severe than Omicron, but does appear to be more contagious,â Dr. Denise Scott, a pediatrician and pediatric endocrinologist, tells Romper via email. âChildren have been one of the hardest hit groups. The Covid vaccine does offer protection, yet children remain the least vaccinated group and those under 5 years of age have not yet been approved for the vaccine.â

Stomach Flu And Food Poisoning Defined

Stomach flu and stomach bug are informal terms for viral gastroenteritis, a sickness in which a viral infection causes inflammation in the stomach and intestines. The term stomach flu can be misleading, says UH internal medicine specialist Christopher Thomas, DO, because the illness in not caused by influenza, which attacks the respiratory system.

Though it shares a number of symptoms with viral gastroenteritis, food poisoning is a condition caused by the consumption of contaminated food or water. In fact, food poisoning is an umbrella term for any of the more than 250 foodborne/waterborne illnesses researchers have identified to date.

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Is It Stomach Bug Stomach Flu Or Food Poisoning

Your stomach is in knots as another wave of nausea strikes, sending you to the bathroom for the third time in an hour. But whats the cause? Two likely culprits are stomach bug and food poisoning. But how does stomach flu differ from food poisoning? Understanding the difference may lead to feeling better sooner and even prevent the illness from occurring in the first place.

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Handle And Prepare Food Safely

Carefully wash fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating them. Cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before eating them.

Be aware that noroviruses are relatively resistant to heat. They can survive temperatures as high as 145°F. Quick steaming processes that are often used for cooking shellfish may not heat foods sufficiently to kill noroviruses.

Food that might be contaminated with norovirus should be thrown out.

Keep sick infants and children out of areas where food is being handled and prepared.

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Symptoms Can Be Similar To Hepatitis So Look Out For Specific Differences

SAN ANTONIO If your family has recently been hit with a stomach bug, it may be the highly contagious norovirus, which is making unusual rounds this spring.

It causes symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, sometimes fever. It comes on really quickly, but it also goes away pretty quickly, said Dr. Robert Sanders, the associate medical director at University Healths Pedi Express clinic downtown.

Dr. Sanders has been seeing a significant spike in norovirus cases over the past couple of months.

The virus can be seen year-round, but it usually spikes in the wintertime. Recent lab results from University Hospital showed the virus spiking in April and early May.

Its really common to see outbreaks in places with a lot of people: schools, daycares — youve heard of cruise ships having these outbreaks, Sanders said.

Parents have told KSAT its been pretty rampant in daycares.

Local school districts dont track absences by specific illnesses but anecdotally reported different things:

Norovirus is hard to control once its in circulation because it cant be wiped out with alcohol-based cleaners.

Hand sanitizer wont work well, so Sanders said its crucial to wash your hands frequently with soap and water.

If your family ends up with norovirus, staying hydrated is important.

Make sure you know when its time to head to the doctor.

Hes also reminding parents about a global hepatitis outbreak in kids.

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It Is The Season For Sickness: Stomach Bug Going Around

TOLEDO, Ohio – ProMedica Urgent Care for Kids says it is seeing a large number of children with a stomach bug caused by the common Norovirus.

Symptoms to watch out for include vomiting, diarrhea and some abdominal pain.

Stephanie Blanchard with ProMedica says this stomach bug is lasting between 24 and 48 hours and it should go away on its own with the help of rest and fluids.

Dehydration is the largest worry and if you are not seeing any improvement in your child after two days, a trip to the doctor is recommended.

Any condition that you call your primary care physician and you cant get in within the week, utilize us. Thats what were here for — to get you guys in to be seen quicker rather than later especially if you just have that instinct of hey somethings not right bring them into the urgent care. Thats when we encourage patients to utilize us the most, said Blanchard.

According to Blanchard, COVID-19 numbers are down in Lucas County and they are not seeing it as much at ProMedica Urgent Care for Kids.

Flu numbers are on the rise, though.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please include the title when you to report it.

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How Can You Get Norovirus

Norovirus is transmitted by any kind of contact that causes the virus to enter the mouth. You can pick it up directly from contact with another person, by touching an infected surface and then touching your mouth or by eating contaminated food or water. Its frequently found in places where there are a lot of people, and the most common places for outbreaks to occur are health care facilities, restaurants and schools or daycare centers. Cruise ships account for only 1 percent of overall outbreaks.

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Stomach Flu On The Rise Again In Us 5 Things To Know About Noroviruses

While COVID-19 cases continue to drop in the U.S., outbreaks of another virusthe stomach fluare ramping up, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

This comes amid easing virus restrictions nationwide. For most of the U.S., roughly 99.5%, it isnt recommended to wear a mask indoors in public because of low or medium COVID-19 Community Level as of March 31, the CDC says.

Meanwhile, 448 norovirus outbreaks were reported in the U.S. from Aug. 1, 2021, to March 5, 2022, according to the agency. In comparison, thats 370 more outbreaks than reported from Aug. 1, 2020, to March 5, 2021, when 78 stomach virus outbreaks were seen.

With people returning to offices and schoolstwo of the most common spots for norovirus outbreakscases of the stomach flu are getting closer to the numbers reported before the pandemic, according to NBC News.

Dr. Robert Atmar, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, told the outlet that the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions is likely connected to the rise in norovirus infections.

Battling norovirus while nursing my sick daughter. Worrying when my son goes to school if he will get COVID . anxiety levels are reaching breaking point, British art historian Dr. Janina Ramirez wrote April 5 on Twitter. The norovirus is the most common stomach bug in the UK, affecting people of all ages, according to the Broxbourne Council.

Heres what to know about the stomach flu:

What are noroviruses?

How contagious are noroviruses?

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What Kinds Of Viruses Cause Viral Gastroenteritis

Many different viruses can cause viral gastroenteritis. The most common causes of viral gastroenteritis include

• norovirus. Norovirus is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis. Symptoms usually begin 12 to 48 hours after you come into contact with the virus and last 1 to 3 days.2
• rotavirus. Symptoms usually begin about 2 days after you come into contact with the virus and last for 3 to 8 days.3Vaccines can prevent rotavirus infection.
• adenovirus. Symptoms typically begin 3 to 10 days after you come into contact with the virus and last 1 to 2 weeks.4
• astrovirus. Symptoms typically begin 4 to 5 days after you come into contact with the virus and last 1 to 4 days.5,6

Norovirus causes infections in people of all ages. Rotavirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus most often infect infants and young children, but they can also infect adults.

Viruses may cause viral gastroenteritis any time of the year. In the United States, norovirus, rotavirus, and astrovirus are more likely to cause infections in the winter.

How To Prevent And Treat A Norovirus Infection

If you think you have symptoms of a possible infection, rest and drink plenty of fluids. Antibiotics cannot help because the infection is viral antibiotics only work on bacterial infections. Most importantly, avoid contact with other people and make sure to wash your hands often.

Also clean any dirty clothes, making sure to handle soiled items with care. Do not prepare food for others and disinfect any contaminated surfaces with bleach. You are contagious from the moment you start feeling sick to the first few days after you recover. If you suspect an outbreak in your community, you should also contact your state or local health department.

Dr. Tiffany Truong is a resident physician in internal medicine in Houston and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.

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What Causes A Stomach Virus

Several things can cause a stomach virus:

• Norovirus: This is the main cause. This represents a family of viruses.
• Rotavirus: This is a viral infection. This is common in babies and young kids.

Viral stomach infections are contagious. It is easy to get and give a stomach virus. It is spread by contact with an infected person, surface, or object. Stomach viruses are likely to spread at places with a lot of people. This includes schools, daycares, nursing homes, airplanes, cruise ships, and hospitals. Stomach viruses are common in cold weather months.

How Can You Stop It From Spreading

Good hygiene is key to preventing the spread of Shigellosis.

• You should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet and at regular intervals throughout the day.
• Help children to wash their hands properly.
• If you need to clean a childs potty, wear gloves when handling it and dispose of the contents in the toilet. Be sure to wash the potty with hot water after each use.

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How Is Norovirus Spread

Norovirus spreads very easily in public places such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools.

You can catch it if small particles of vomit or stools from an infected person get into your mouth through:

• close contact with someone with norovirus who may breathe out small particles of the virus that you then inhale
• touching contaminated surfaces or objects, as the virus can survive outside the body for several days
• eating contaminated food, which can happen if an infected person doesnt wash their hands before preparing or handling food

Norovirus is most infectious from the start of symptoms until 48 hours after all symptoms have stopped. You may also be infectious for a short time before and after this.

You can get norovirus more than once because the virus is always changing and your body is unable to build up long-term resistance to it.

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Urgent Advice: Get Advice From 111 Now If:

• youre worried about a baby under 12 months
• your child stops breast or bottle feeding while theyre ill
• a child under 5 years has signs of dehydration such as fewer wet nappies
• you or your child still have signs of dehydration after using oral rehydration sachets
• you or your child keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down
• you or your child have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom
• you or your child have diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days

111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.

Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

A GP may be able to help you.

Ask a GP surgery for an urgent appointment.

Check with the GP surgery before going in. A GP may speak to you on the phone.

Ulysses Wu, MD

Just when we seemed to catch a break with COVID-19 on the decline, Hartford HealthCare doctors are seeing an uptick in flu, common cold and stomach bugs, said HHC Director of Infectious Disease Ulysses Wu.

A stomach bug going around now in Connecticut is of particular concern, causing severe vomiting and diarrhea in people for several days. While those unlucky enough to catch it may refer to it as a stomach bug or the stomach flu, what they are actually experiencing is probably gastroenteritis the second most common illness in the U.S., according to the National Library of Medicine.

According to WebMD:

What are the Symptoms of Gastroenteritis?

How does Gastroenteritis spread?

Comparing Stomach Flu And Food Poisoning

Lets look at this table that compares and contrasts stomach flu with food poisoning:

Overall, food poisoning happens much faster than stomach flu, and resolves faster too. With food poisoning, the toxins are already in the food. Bacteria consumes the food and makes the toxins long before you eat it. The toxin starts working as soon as it is absorbed in your stomach.

On the other hand, the stomach flu virus doesnt spoil the food. Food will taste, smell, and feel normal when you eat it. The virus is not active until it gets inside your body. It needs time to invade your cells and use your protein to multiply its genetic material.

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Gastroenteritis Or Stomach Virus

Disease: Gastroenteritis or the stomach flu is an illness of the stomach and intestines. Most of the time the illness is caused by a virus.

It is NOT the same as influenza or the flu. Influenza is a different virus, and it does not cause gastroenteritis. The flu is a respiratory infection involving the lungs.

Transmission/Incubation: Symptoms usually begin about 24 to 48 hours after infection, but they can appear as early as 12 hours after exposure.

Gastroenteritis can spread easily from person to person. Both stool and vomit are infectious. Particular care should be taken with young children in diapers who may have diarrhea. It can also be spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

People with gastroenteritis are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least 3 days after recovery.

Symptoms: The illness often begins suddenly, but it is brief, lasting 1 or 2 days in most cases. Occasionally it can last as long as 10 days. The infected person may have the following symptoms:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Tiredness

Treatment: Currently, there is no antibiotic treatment available and there is no vaccine to prevent infection. The influenza vaccine or flu shot will not protect a person from gastroenteritis, since the influenza virus does not cause gastroenteritis.

Prevention: You can decrease your chance of becoming ill with gastroenteritis or passing it on to others by following these preventive steps.

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