Nursery World - A Unique Child: Health - A doctor's diary ... norovirus

'Doctor, something is going around the nursery, and half the children are vomiting!'

Norovirus, also referred to as the winter vomiting virus, Norwalk virus or small round structured virus, causes misery for around a million people every year in the UK.

It is the commonest infectious cause of both diarrhoea and vomiting, which combined are otherwise known as gastroenteritis. While most cases occur during the winter, noroviral infection may occur at any time during the year. Outbreaks often occur in communal environments, such as schools and nursing homes. Infection from this virus alone was estimated to cost the NHS around £100m in 2003.

The most common symptom caused by norovirus is vomiting, which is often projectile in nature. Diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, fever and headaches can also occur. Symptoms tend to occur 24 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus. This relatively long incubation period often makes it very difficult to trace exactly from where or from whom the virus was contracted.

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