On March 15, a reporter from the Beijing News learned from the Shunyi Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Beijing Children’s Hospital that some children with vomiting have recently appeared in the pediatric outpatient clinic of the hospital, some with fever and diarrhea. Aggregate disease. Combined with the child’s clinical symptoms and routine blood tests, the doctor diagnosed norovirus gastroenteritis.
Zhao Jiawei, the chief pediatrician of Shunyi Women’s and Children’s Hospital, introduced that norovirus is a single-stranded RNA virus of the human Caliciviridae family, containing 7 genotypes , is one of the common non-bacterial pathogens causing acute gastroenteritis. Norovirus gastroenteritis is distributed throughout the year, with a high incidence from October to March of the following year, so it is also called winter vomiting disease. In recent years, norovirus infection has been on the rise in my country, and the scale of the outbreak is large. It is the main pathogen of collective fulminant gastroenteritis in schools and restaurants.
Norovirus gastroenteritis occurs in children, the elderly, especially children under 6 years old, the immune system and gastrointestinal defense function It is immature and susceptible to norovirus infection and can cause acute gastroenteritis. In severe cases, it can cause serious complications such as dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. The source of infection of the disease is norovirus gastroenteritis patients, invisible infections or pathogen carriers. The fecal-oral route is the main mode of transmission. It can be transmitted through aerosols of stool and vomit, contaminated water sources (bottled water, city water, etc.). water), food (raw vegetables, fruits, seafood), or the environment contaminated with the virus.
The incubation period of norovirus gastroenteritis infection is mostly 24 hours to 48 hours, and the onset is acute. The main symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea, followed by Nausea, abdominal pain, fever, and myalgia. The course of the disease is usually 1-3 days, a few can reach 5 days, and the younger the age, the longer the course of the disease. Vomiting is common in children, and diarrhea is more common in adults. The stool is watery or watery without mucus, pus and blood.
How is an infection treated?
At present, there is no specific antiviral drug, and no need to add antibiotics. Generally, the symptoms are mild and self-limited, and the prognosis is good. Antiemetic, antidiarrheal, and prevention of dehydration are the key points. Children can drink a small amount of water several times, take oral rehydration saline, and a light diet is appropriate. Oral probiotics and montmorillonite powder can be used as adjuvant therapy. For severe vomiting and dehydration, intravenous fluids must be used, and specific medication needs to be carried out under the guidance of a doctor.
How can I prevent norovirus infection?
There are currently no specific medicines and vaccines, and frequent hand washing is the most effective preventive measure. Washing with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds (six-step handwashing method), hand sanitizer and hand sanitizer are not a substitute for hand washing, especially before meals and after defecation. Vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly rinsed and dishes should be heated thoroughly. Infected children need to be isolated until 72 hours after symptoms have completely disappeared, and post-infection is not lifelong immunity.
Beijing News reporter Wang Kara