Norovirus: A group of viruses that are a common cause of food poisoning and acute gastroenteritis ("stomach flu") that can strike quickly with force and make a person feel very sick but which typically resolves within 2-3 days. The characteristic symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping. The diarrhea is not bloody. Fever, if present, is low-grade. Dehydration is the main complication, especially in infants and the elderly, and may need medical attention.
The clinical criteria for the diagnosis of norovirus infection include:
The virus is spread primarily from one infected person to another (by the fecal-oral route). Infected kitchen workers can contaminate a salad or sandwich as they prepare it, if they have the virus on their hands. Infected fishermen have contaminated oysters as they harvested them. Norovirus infection has become a veritable plague on cruise ships.
Norovirus was coined to refer to the Norwalk-like virus by a simpler and more memorable term. It is now the official name. Also called the calicivirus because of its characteristic "Star of David" shape with cup-shaped (chalice) indentations.
Noroviruses (genus Norovirus, family Caliciviridae) are a group of related, single-stranded RNA, non-enveloped viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis in ...
Symptoms and signs of norovirus infection include vomiting, watery diarrhea, stomach pain, headache, muscle aches and possibly fever. Read about treatment, outbreak ...
Norovirus infection — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, treatment, prevention of this highly contagious viral illness.
Printer-friendly version of this page [3.19 MB/2 pages] Norovirus—the stomach bug. Norovirus is a highly contagious illness caused by infection with a virus ...
Norovirus. Last updated July 14, 2006. Agent Pathogenesis Epidemiology Clinical Features Differential Diagnosis for Gastroenteritis Laboratory Diagnosis