People with symptoms are being urged to ‘stay home’
The NHS is urging people with certain symptoms to “stay home, rest and have plenty of fluids”, as cases of a grim bug remain at high levels across England. Despite norovirus typically being associated with winter, the illness shows no signs of diminishing any time soon.
A post from NHS England on X, on Saturday, said there have now been more than a million visits to the NHS’s online advice regarding norovirus in the last 16 weeks, making it “the most visited condition on the NHS website this winter”. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and possibly fever, headaches, stomach cramps, or widespread muscle pain.
While these symptoms are unpleasant, most instances can be managed at home and will subside within several days. NHS guidance emphasises keeping hydrated while suffering, as well as staying home, getting plenty of rest, and eating when you feel able to.
Paracetamol can be used if you are experiencing discomfort, and it is advised that those breastfeeding or giving formula to infants proceed as normal, while also offering babies on formula or solids water in minimal amounts between feedings.
Further instructions advise: “Speak to a pharmacist if you or your child (aged 5 years or over) have norovirus and you have signs of dehydration, such as dark, smelly pee or peeing less than usual, you’re an older person, have a weakened immune system, or have other health conditions that increase your risk of dehydration, or you need to stop diarrhoea for a few hours.”
People are encouraged to contact 111 if they’re worried about a baby under one year old, especially if the infant stops breastfeeding or bottle-feeding when sick. It is also recommended to contact the service if a child under five shows signs of dehydration, if symptoms of dehydration persist after taking oral rehydration sachets, or if there is continuous vomiting making it impossible to keep fluids down.
Other worrying symptoms include bloody diarrhoea or rectal bleeding in you or your child, or if there’s diarrhoea that extends beyond seven days or vomiting that exceeds two days.
