🧻 Norovirus
PH
PureHealthness Editorial Team · Health writers & reviewers
📝 Last reviewed: August 2026
✔ Transparent sourcing · Some articles are AI-drafted, then reviewed & fact-checked by our team
📝 Last reviewed: August 2026
| In brief | Severe, sudden vomiting, watery diarrhea, painful stomach cramps, and low-grade fever. |
|---|---|
| Category | Digestive |
🔍 What causes it
The most contagious stomach virus — a few virus particles can infect. Spread by contaminated hands, food, surfaces. Wintertime outbreaks are common (cruise ships, schools, care homes).
⚠️ Key symptoms
- Sudden projectile vomiting
- Watery diarrhea
- Painful stomach cramps
- Low-grade fever, aches
💊 Treatment
Fluids (ORS) are the treatment — dehydration is the danger. Symptoms usually clear in 1-3 days. Hand sanitiser is weak against it — SOAP and water are essential. Stay home 48h after symptoms end (still contagious).
🛡️ Prevention
Frequent soap-and-water hand washing, disinfect surfaces (bleach works), wash produce, don't prepare food for others while sick.
🚨 See a doctor / red flags: See a doctor promptly if symptoms are severe, do not improve, or get worse — especially for children, older adults, pregnant women, or anyone with a chronic condition.
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