Health Advice for Stomach Bug Sufferers

Jump to Comments

Public Information release from Birmingham East and North Primary Care Trust

Are you suffering from a stomach bug causing sickness and diarrhoea?
If so, please follow this simple health advice to make sure you get well quickly, without passing your symptoms onto friends, family or work colleagues.
A significant number of people living across Birmingham are currently suffering from a stomach bug, causing sickness and diarrhoea.This is an infectious bug that can spread easily between people, caused by a virus called Norovirus. Whilst unpleasant, Norovirus is usually a mild condition and people are likely to make a full recovery within 2-3 days. Anyone can catch this virus; either by coming into contact with an infected person, or touching infected surfaces like door handles or toilets.Outbreaks are more common in enclosed spaces like GP waiting rooms, nurseries, schools, hospitals and care homes. There is no specific treatment for Norovirus - it’s best to just let it run its course. However, if you are suffering from this stomach bug, please follow this simple advice, to make sure you get well quickly, without passing your symptoms onto friends, family of work colleagues:

• Don’t go to work, school or any other public places.Stay at home for 2-3 days until your symptoms have passed.

• Don’t go to hospital.There is no treatment for the bug and you are likely to pass it on to other people who are at hospital for other reasons, possibly making them ill.

• Don’t visit your GP unless absolutely necessary. The best way to get health advice is to call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.You will be able to speak to a qualified health professional, without having to leave your own home.

• Wash your hands after using the toilet and before preparing food.This can stop the virus from spreading and could prevent you from catching the bug in the first place.

• Avoid preparing food for others until at least three days after your symptoms have gone.

• If you have the symptoms of norovirus, try to avoid direct contact with other people for at least 48 hours (two days) after your symptoms have gone.

• Make sure that you drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Try taking frequent sips of water or fruit juice, even if you are being sick.

• Adults can also take rehydration drinks. These are available from pharmacies (chemists) and provide the correct balance of salt, sugar and minerals for your body. Rehydration drinks are not always advised for children - speak with your pharmacist or GP first.

• Adults can also take anti-diarrhoea medicine, which is available at pharmacies and at shops such as supermarkets.

• Anti-diarrhoea medicines are not suitable for children.

Visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk for more information about Norovirus and to get specific advice about how to treat symptoms in babies and children.

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Leopard Attacks
• Firefox 2.0 broken, now fixed
• Millennium Bug A Different Virus

1 Comment

Filed under health