A stomach virus spreading through Long Island households and classrooms is hitting patients with nausea, stomach cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to pediatricians and family physicians. While clinicians see this infection annually from November to April, there are concerns it could leave young children and the elderly dangerously dehydrated if not monitored properly.
Identifying and Preventing Transmission
Doctors note it is not always easy to determine whether a patient contracted norovirus or another virus causing severe vomiting and diarrhea, with testing generally conducted only for patients requiring hospital treatment. Norovirus is extremely contagious and can be picked up on contaminated surfaces as well as food or water handled by someone who is infected. It is linked to more than 50% of food poisoning cases in the United States, and the CDC estimates it causes 19 to 21 million illnesses every year and 900 deaths, with the majority among people 65 and older.
Dr. David Fagan, a pediatrician at Northwell Health, emphasized that alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill norovirus. “This virus has a very firm, hard coating,” he explained, and hand-washing is essential to wash the virus off hands. Fagan reported seeing more preschoolers and elementary school kids with the virus than middle schoolers and teens. Dr. Christine Doucet, who owns Patchogue Family Medical Care, advises wiping down counters, doorknobs, and other common surfaces that may be contaminated.
Management and Monitoring
Whether or not the illness is confirmed norovirus, symptoms are treated the same. According to Dr. Eve Meltzer Krief at Huntington Village Pediatrics, it is “really important to keep up with the fluids, especially in babies and young children where it’s important to use electrolyte replacement drinks like Pedialyte.” Symptoms typically last one to three days. Parents should contact doctors if children have ongoing vomiting, as medicine for nausea can help them keep fluids down. Doucet advises waiting an hour after the last vomiting spell, then taking only teaspoon-size doses of fluids every 15 minutes, before attempting dry and plain foods like toast and crackers after two or three hours. For hydration monitoring in children, parents should ensure adequate urination with clear urine rather than dark coloring.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.newsday.com/news/health/stomach-virus-homes-classrooms-u0p3d8jg