How Is Norovirus Infection Treated?

Norovirus infections are a significant cause of gastroenteritis, characterized by their high infectivity and environmental stability. Treatment options are limited, and management primarily focuses on symptomatic relief and infection control.

Key insights from the research papers include:

Infection control measures such as hand hygiene, limiting exposure, and environmental decontamination are crucial for managing norovirus outbreaks.
Antiviral treatments like the viral polymerase inhibitor 2'-C-methylcytidine (2CMC) can be effective post-exposure, reducing symptoms and viral shedding in a mouse model.
Prophylactic treatment with 2CMC has been shown to prevent norovirus transmission in a mouse model, suggesting potential for outbreak control.
Enteral administration of immune globulin has been reported to treat chronic norovirus gastroenteritis in a transplant patient.
Oral human immunoglobulins (OHIG) have been used in treatment, but their effectiveness in reducing hospitalization time is unclear.
A norovirus vaccine candidate showed a reduction in the severity of symptoms and viral shedding in a human challenge study.
Rapid implementation of stringent infection control measures can effectively terminate norovirus outbreaks in healthcare settings.
Citrate treatment alters norovirus particle morphology and may affect the virus's ability to infect, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach.
Management of chronic norovirus in transplant patients includes symptom control and immunosuppression reduction, with trials of antivirals like nitazoxanide and immunoglobulin.
Non-specific treatment and prevention strategies are currently in use, with research ongoing for vaccine candidates.

In conclusion, the treatment of norovirus infection is primarily supportive, focusing on symptom management and hydration. Infection control measures are critical in outbreak settings. Antiviral agents and immune globulins have shown promise in certain cases, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Research into vaccines and novel treatments like citrate continues to evolve, potentially offering more targeted interventions in the future.

Summary

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Sources and full results

Infection control for norovirus.

Post-exposure antiviral treatment of norovirus infections effectively protects against diarrhea and reduces virus shedding in the stool in a mortality mouse model.

Prophylactic treatment with the nucleoside analogue 2'-C-methylcytidine completely prevents transmission of norovirus.

Chronic norovirus infection in a transplant patient successfully treated with enterally administered immune globulin.

PTH-250 Clinical course and management of norovirus infection following small bowel transplantation in children

Norovirus vaccine against experimental human GII.4 virus illness: a challenge study in healthy adults.

Rapid control of norovirus gastroenteritis outbreak in an acute paediatric ward.

Treatment of norovirus particles with citrate.

Chronic Norovirus Infections in Cardiac Transplant Patients

Noroviruses: State of the Art

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