Hitting Rhode Island
hard
By Will Collette
Just as the reports of flu cases are leveling off, the country is seeing
a rapid rise in reported cases of the new “Sydney strain” of norovirus, a nasty
stomach bug that causes severe vomiting diarrhea and nausea.
New strains of stomach viruses emerge every few years. The last time was
in 2009. This new strain was first observed in Australia, thus the name. It has
spread rapidly around the world, usually by contact with infected food or
surfaces.
Stomach viruses are often worse in winter. They can spread rapidly in
closed environments, such as cruise ships, schools and nursing homes and then
into the general population. The illness can be spread by food handlers who do
not wash their hands.
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| Makes you feel worse than you would reading a George Tremblay research report |
According to Dr. Peter Simmon of the RI Health Department the illness is
dangerous to the elderly, babies and persons with compromised immune systems.
He recommends contacting a doctor at the onset of symptoms and to stop eating
and drinking while the vomiting persists.
However, the Centers for Disease Control recommends drinking lots of
fluids to replace what you
lose through vomiting and diarrhea to prevent dehydration.
Actor Burt Reynolds was just hospitalized in intensive care due to severe dehydration.
Symptoms of dehydration: decrease in urination;
dry mouth and throat; dizziness when you stand up. Children who are dehydrated
may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.
Dr. Simmon says the first stage of vomiting
should pass after 24 hours, but that you could remain sick for four to five
days – and remain a carrier of the disease for up to ten days (so back off!).
This is a virus, so antibiotics will not work on
it. Treat the symptoms and get some TLC, but forget about Z-Pack or any
antibiotics that only work on bacterial infections.