Just after the Spring Festival, it is the time when it is warm and cold.
There is a virus that is quietly threatening the health of children, and it is norovirus.
Recently, the disease control departments in Beijing, Henan, Zhejiang and other places issued news to remind parents that acute infectious diarrhea caused by norovirus has entered the peak period of incidence.
What is Norovirus?
How to prevent it?
Recently, in the pediatric clinics of some hospitals in Guangdong, Fujian and other places, many parents brought their children to see a doctor.
The cases of vomiting and diarrhea caused by norovirus have increased significantly compared with the past.
Ren Lihong, Chief Physician of the Department of Pediatrics, Xiang'an Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University: In the
past four days or so, the number of patients with vomiting and abdominal pain has increased significantly, and some of them are diarrhea, which may account for 60 to 70%.
Liu Xiujun, an attending TCM physician at Qingyuan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province:
During this period of time, there are more and more noroviruses, and it is generally common among children under the age of five.
Norovirus is also known as Norwalk virus.
Every year from October to next March is the high incidence period of norovirus.
Generally, the symptoms are mild, and the most common symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. Among them, children mainly suffer from vomiting, some accompanied by fever; adults mostly suffer from diarrhea.
Tian Geng, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University:
Norovirus is an enterovirus, that is, it mainly causes a reaction in the digestive tract, and its incubation period is generally 24 to 48 hours.
How is norovirus spread?
Norovirus is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Once you eat norovirus-contaminated food or drink contaminated water, or come into contact with aerosols produced by patient excrement or vomit, you may be infected by norovirus.
Shellfish such as oysters and raw vegetables and fruits are common foods that cause norovirus infection.
Tian Geng, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University:
The excrement of infected patients contaminates food, water sources or the environment, causing this indirect contact transmission.
What kind of medicine should be taken for norovirus infection?
The doctor suggested that norovirus infection is a self-limiting disease, so after infection, the main thing is to prevent dehydration, pay attention to rest and replenish electrolytes, and patients with serious conditions should go to the hospital in time.
Tian Geng, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University:
Because of norovirus, there is currently no effective vaccine or antiviral drug. It is mainly a symptomatic treatment to avoid dehydration in patients.
In addition, for diarrhea, we can use some antidiarrheal products, such as montmorillonite powder, and some probiotics can also be treated orally.
How to prevent kindergartens, schools and other places from going back to school?
Norovirus has the characteristics of clustered onset, so collective units such as schools and kindergartens are key places for prevention and control.
Doctors suggest that schools and childcare institutions should pay special attention to food hygiene after school starts, and strengthen the health supervision of kitchen staff to prevent the virus from being transmitted to students through food.
Tian Geng, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University:
If students with such nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal symptoms appear in the class, they should seek medical treatment in time, and at the same time, their vomit should be treated according to the norovirus infection. , similar to the criteria for norovirus infection.
In the face of norovirus, how can families protect themselves?
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention reminds everyone that maintaining good hand hygiene is the most important and effective measure to prevent norovirus infection.
Wash your hands properly with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds before and after meals.
It should be noted that disinfectant wipes and no-rinse hand sanitizer cannot replace hand washing.
Tian Geng, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University:
Seafood and shellfish are places where noro is easy to parasitize, so this kind of food should be cooked thoroughly, and the family environment should be disinfected, such as toilets , Door handles, a hygienic disinfection of these public items.
A special reminder is that this norovirus is not sensitive to disinfectants such as alcohol.