What are the symptoms of norovirus infection?
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Introduction
Norovirus infection is a leading cause of gastroenteritis, characterized by symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. It is highly contagious and can cause outbreaks in various settings.
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Symptoms of Norovirus Infection:
- Sudden onset of diarrhea and/or vomiting, lethargy, headache, abdominal discomfort, nausea, anorexia, and fever, typically resolving within 72 hours.
- In children, norovirus can cause convulsions, with a higher incidence compared to rotavirus, but long-term neurological sequelae are uncommon.
- Chronic infection in immunocompromised individuals, such as renal transplant recipients, can lead to persistent symptoms like abdominal discomfort, fever, and weight loss.
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Age-Related Symptom Variation:
- Vomiting is more common in younger patients, while diarrhea is more prevalent in older individuals.
- The incidence of fever is higher in patients infected with genogroup II noroviruses compared to genogroup I.
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Duration and Severity of Symptoms:
- Norovirus symptoms are generally mild and self-limiting, lasting 1-3 days, with severe cases being rare and typically occurring in the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions .
- Hospitalization due to norovirus may result in longer stays compared to rotavirus, indicating potentially more severe symptoms.
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Asymptomatic Infections:
- Norovirus infections can be asymptomatic, with individuals still shedding the virus.
- Symptomatic individuals exhibit greater immune system activation compared to asymptomatic individuals, but viral burden does not differ significantly between the two groups.
Conclusion
Norovirus infection commonly presents with acute gastroenteritis symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and fever, which are self-limiting and resolve within a few days. Children may experience convulsions, and symptom severity can vary with age. Chronic and asymptomatic infections occur, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, with the latter still capable of viral shedding. Overall, norovirus is a significant cause of gastroenteritis with a range of clinical manifestations.
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