Here’s a guide to the full set of symptoms of two illnesses that are on the rise across the UK – it comes after East Surrey Hospital declared a critical incident this week
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Norovirus: The symptoms and how to protect yourself
Run-down Brits have been urged to reconsider heading to packed A&E clinics, with patients warned to stay home unless they are in life-threatening condition.
Dozens of patients have been left battling sickness over the winter period after health bosses stressed there could be a “tidal wave of flu”. Over the past few weeks, there has been an influx of illnesses with officials stressing that some hospitals will struggle to cope with the demand.
It comes after officials earlier warned of a so-called “quademic” of disease such as; flu, Covid-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and norovirus. On Wednesday, East Surrey Hospital declared a critical incident due to a “sharp rise in winter viruses”. NHS bosses warned people to avoid A&E where possible because its “services are under significant pressure”.
Ed Cetti, Chief Medical Officer at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said: “Due to high levels of demand and a sharp increase in winter viruses which is impacting staffing levels and how we move patients around our site, our services are under significant pressure.
“Our staff are working around the clock to minimise disruption to those already on our wards, treat all patients coming into our Emergency Department, and continue to discharge patients who no longer require acute care to ensure we have available beds for those who need admission, but please only attend East Surrey Hospital in a life-threatening emergency.”
The main illnesses which patients have reported on appear to be norovirus and flu, with both of them tending to overlap with certain symptoms such as vomiting and muscle ache. Norovirus causes extreme sickness and diarrhoea. Despite the severity of the symptoms, the bug usually goes away in about two days.
However, the flu affects your lungs and can linger for up to two weeks – causing symptoms such as fatigue, a dry cough and a sore throat. The flu is considered to be a major concern for high risk patients as officials continue to urge vulnerable groups to get the jab.
The main symptoms of norovirus
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Diarrhoea
- Being sick (vomiting)
- Muscle ache
- Headache
The main symptoms of flu
- Sudden high temperature
- An aching body
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea or tummy pain
- Feeling sick and being sick