2013: The Year of the … Norovirus, Hand Gels don't kill...

[littlemissmartypants]

Norovirus is a very contagious virus. You can get norovirus from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed (acute gastroenteritis). This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up.

Anyone can be infected with norovirus and get sick. Also, you can have norovirus illness many times in your life. Norovirus illness can be serious, especially for young children and older adults.

Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States. Each year, it causes about 21 million illnesses and contributes to about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths. Norovirus is also the most common cause of foodborne-disease outbreaks in the United States.

The best way to help prevent norovirus is to practice proper hand washing and general cleanliness.

Learn more about norovirus: http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/overview.html

The Norovirus: A Study in Puked Perfection

Each norovirus carries just nine protein-coding genes (you have about 20,000). Even with that skimpy genetic toolkit, noroviruses can break the locks on our cells, slip in, and hack our own DNA to make new noroviruses. The details of this invasion are sketchy, alas, because scientists haven’t figured out a good way to rear noroviruses in human cells in their labs. It’s not even clear exactly which type of cell they invade once they reach the gut. Regardless of the type, they clearly know how to exploit their hosts. Noroviruses come roaring out of the infected cells in vast numbers. And then they come roaring out of the body. Within a day of infection, noroviruses have rewired our digestive system so that stuff comes flying out from both ends.

To trigger diarrhea, the viruses alter the intestinal lining, causing cells to dump out their fluids, which then gets washed out of the body–along with many, many, many noroviruses. Each gram of feces contains around five billion noroviruses. (Yes, billion.)

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/02/the-norovirus-a-study-in-puked-perfection/

http://www.foodsafety.gov/

[Berlum]

1. Virulent mutant virus

...on a planet infested with mutant genes created by Industrial Science, Inc..

"Shut up, sit down, and eat your mystery mutant rations." - Big GMO, Inc.

[John1956PA]

2. I caught this virus in October and had to go the E.R.

I fell ill at 2:00 AM. The symptoms were severe. By 9:00 AM, I got a ride to the Emergency Room where I was administered an I.V. to get my system re-hydrated. It was a nasty ordeal.

[littlemissmartypants]

3. I am so glad you are feeling better.

Apparently 800 people die each year. So sorry you were infected, thank you for the reply. Peace. lmsp

[Buzz Clik]

4. I'd be interested in what small fraction of "germs" hand gels actually kill.

Probably a very small number.

[pipi_k]

7. So would I...

I use one when I'm out and about...that, or one of those alcohol hand wipe thingies that at least RUB some of the germs off.

But my hands don't feel really clean until I can get home and use some good old fashioned soap and water.

[KittyWampus]

10. a nurse posted in response to my comments a few weeks ago. Apparently not many.

[Odin2005]

5. I got this a few years ago. Wost stomach bug I ever had!

I had the misfortune of puking on my bathroom floor while sitting on the pot with explosive diarrhea.

[geomon666]

6. Yup, had the same.

Not the worst 48 hours of my life but definitely close.

[RiffRandell]

8. Husband and daughter have it now.

Just vomiting, but daughter is going on 3 days and still feels horrible. Keeping her hydrated as she has no appetite.

Saw on GMA today they are calling it the "Ferrari" because it spreads so fast. I'm just waiting.....

[KittyWampus]

9. Had it earlier. Nasty. Stomach cramped for days after initial 2 directional purging.

[2theleft]

11. 2 directional purging

Best description of a truly miserable experience.

And, why does it NEVER fail that when it happens, the bathroom trashcan is full? So, you desperately dump the trash on the floor while other bad things are happening. Then, as though you aren't miserable enough, you have to pick up the trash after you wash the trashcan.

For all of you suffering with this, feel better soon and be careful to stay hydrated. If you can't, get to the doctor so you can get fluids!!

[geomon666]

12. ugh

[athena]

13. I've had it since Sunday.

It's supposed to go away in two days, but I still feel nauseated and have zero appetite. This is an awful virus.

I'm convinced I got it because some idiot used a bathroom after an infected person and didn't wash his/her hands. A couple of days ago, I posted a thread in GD about the importance of washing one's hands after using the bathroom, and it sank pretty quickly. I then found an earlier thread, in which people were bragging about how they don't wash their hands after using public bathrooms because they think the sinks are dirty.

I ask anyone who doesn't wash her hands after using a public bathroom to consider the following. I am sick. I use a public bathroom. I get virus on my hands from the toilet paper. I then get the virus on the door of the stall as I unlock it to leave. I go and wash my hands. You come in a while later and use the same stall I used. You get virus on your hands while opening the door. You then happily walk out of the bathroom, getting the virus not only on the outer door of the bathroom but on everything else you touch: an elevator button, another door handle, the checkout counter at a store. Moreover, the next person who uses the bathroom after you may conscientiously wash her hands but will nonetheless get my virus on her way out because you infected the outer door with it.

Please just wash your hands after using the bathroom. If everyone did that, the rates of this painful and unpleasant disease would go down drastically.

[geomon666]

14. +1

And take care. I know it's brutal to go through.

[athena]

15. Thanks! (n/t)

[Retrograde]

20. I became a handwashing fanatic after having it

Unfortunatly, the virus can live on surfaces such as walls and handrails for some time, so I've added washing my hands after being out in public and before eating as well.

It's a very widespread disease, and I think a lot of people who have a milder form shrug it off as "food poisoning" or "something I ate".

[bullwinkle428]

16. Went through it a couple of years ago - felt close to death for about 36 hours.

Finally began to feel like I could take in some liquids, and the recovery process seemed to begin.

[liberal_at_heart]

17. the old and the young and those with underlying medical issues are always

at risk of complications with any illness. These populations should be monitored closely. For others it is just the flu. People get the flu every year. My daughter got the flu last week and missed four days of school. She survived and is better now and no one else in the house got sick. Usually when one person in our house gets sick everybody gets sick, but this time only one person got sick and is now better. For me I wash my hands and try not to freak out over every little bug in the world.

[Berlum]

18. Wow - this stuff is getting around

friends and associates succumbing...

[littlemissmartypants]

19. So sorry to hear that and I hope it overlooks you and they all

survive it. Dehydration will kill you. The metabolic disturbances that occur when there is high risk of sodium and potassium depletion are nothing to ignore. Not to mention the cardiac implications. Get to the doctor ASAP if you think you too have succumbed. Good luck and Peace. lmsp