How to prevent norovirus infection?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am writing about the horrible stomach virus that's tearing through my son's college dormitory! My son (19) called yesterday, barely able to talk because he'd been vomiting every 20 minutes for 6 hours straight. By midnight, 14 students on his floor had identical symptoms - violent vomiting, explosive diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever. The campus health center is overwhelmed and told students to "ride it out" unless they show signs of severe dehydration.

My son says the bathrooms are disaster zones with students rushing in constantly and vomiting everywhere, including hallways, when they can't make it to the toilet in time. He has not kept down even water for 18 hours now and sounds terrible on the phone - weak, shaky voice and confused at times. His roommate took him some Pedialyte (electrolyte drink), but he vomited it immediately. The school sent an email saying they suspect norovirus and are implementing "enhanced cleaning protocols," but students report no visible increase in cleaning efforts. Three students have already been hospitalized for dehydration.

My biggest concern is that my son has type 1 diabetes, and his blood sugar was 287 when he last checked, despite not eating anything - I worry about diabetic ketoacidosis developing. He is 3 hours' drive away, and I am debating whether to go get him or send him to the local emergency room. How dangerous is this virus for someone with diabetes? At what point should he seek emergency care? And how can he avoid getting reinfected since the virus seems rampant in his building?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Norovirus is a highly contagious, self-limiting infection that can spread to all the members of a dormitory from a single source.

Dehydration could be serious if water intake isn't maintained, which can get complicated if the patient has diabetes. Such patients are more prone to various issues, such as:

1. Kidney damage due to fluctuating sugar levels.

2. Fluctuating sugar levels lead to hyper- or hypoglycemic episodes, dizziness, or diabetes ketoacidosis.

3. Electrolyte imbalance due to diarrhea and vomiting.

Some symptoms that need to be monitored:

1. Signs of dehydration- very dry mouth, extreme thirst, very dark urine or no urine output, dizziness, or fainting.

2. Signs of diabetic ketoacidosis- fruity-smelling breath, confusion, rapid breathing, and nausea/vomiting.

3. Rapid heartbeat.

4. Confusion.

Please take him to the ER if you notice any of the mentioned signs. Intravenous fluids will help to maintain his medicines and relieve his dehydration. As you said about repeated vomiting and sugar rising, you must consider him getting admitted to the ER. Some other advice is given below.

Advice:

ORS, increased fluid intake, and avoiding sugary drinks.
Ondansetron, an antiemetic drug that prevents vomiting.
Imodium for diarrhea.
Anti-spasmodic like Cyclopam (a combination of Dicyclomine and Paracetamol used for the treatment of abdominal pain).
Eat easy-to-digest food items like rice, soups, toast, and fruits.
Yogurt to maintain normal gut flora.
Disinfect the surfaces with bleach powder and wash all the clothes and bedding.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.