Norwalk Virus Treatment & Management

  • Author: Zartash Zafar Khan, MD; Chief Editor: Burke A Cunha, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 11, 2012
 

Medical Care

  • Oral fluid and electrolyte replacement is generally adequate for the treatment of norovirus infections.
  • In cases of severe volume depletion, intravenous fluid and electrolyte resuscitation may be necessary.
  • Symptomatic relief can be achieved using antiemetics for nausea and vomiting and analgesics for myalgias and headache.
  • Antiperistaltic agents should generally be avoided in cases of infectious diarrhea but could be considered in patients with severe diarrhea.
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Consultations

In all epidemic outbreaks (2 or more people who shared a common meal), the local and/or state health department should be contacted for investigation of potential sources.

For questions, the gastroenteritis section of the CDC can be reached at 404-639-3607. Frequently asked questions are addressed at the CDC’s Viral Gastroenteritis Web site.

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Diet

  • Electrolyte replacement liquids such as Pedialyte or Gatorade
  • Regular diet as tolerated
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Activity

Activity may be performed as tolerated.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Zartash Zafar Khan, MD  Infectious Disease Consultant

Zartash Zafar Khan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and International Society for Infectious Diseases

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Mark Martin Huycke, MD  Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Section, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Chief, Medical Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City

Mark Martin Huycke, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Todd S Wills  MD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, Program Director, Infectious Disease Fellowship Program, University of South Florida College of Medicine

Todd S Wills is a member of the following medical societies: Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michelle A Jaworski  MD, Consulting Staff, Midland Orthopedic Associates

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Joseph Richard Masci, MD  Professor of Medicine, Professor of Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Director of Medicine, Elmhurst Hospital Center

Joseph Richard Masci, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, Association of Professors of Medicine, and Royal Society of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Richard B Brown, MD, FACP  Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, Baystate Medical Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine

Richard B Brown, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Massachusetts Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD  Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Burke A Cunha, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Hematoxylin and eosin stain of duodenal epithelium.
The norovirus genomic structure and capsid domains.
 
 
 
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