Seven norovirus symptoms you need to look out for as UK infection numbers rise

Coronavirus restrictions are set to be lifted on March 21 in Scotland with the likes of face coverings and vaccine passports being ditched.

Despite masks being scrapped, it's still recommend that you wear them in order to prevent transmission with the Scottish Government asking the public to keep up their basic hygiene just as they have been during the pandemic such as washing their hands and sanitising surfaces.

At present, around 1 in 19 people are said to have Covid according to the Office for National Statistics' Covid infection survey for the week 20 to 26 February 2022.

This number equates to around 280,500 people.

However whilst covid is spreading, health officials have reported a rise in the number of people suffering from norovirus in the UK over the past few weeks.

As reported by the Daily Record, cases of the highly infectious vomiting bug have been found in educational settings such as nurseries and childcare facilities which is said to be 48% higher than usual, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.

Norovirus is commonly known as the 'winter vomiting bug' (Getty 2022.)

Norovirus, which is contacted through contaminated surfaces, causes vomiting and diarrhoea and should pass within a couple of days.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) said that the provisional total of laboratory reports for norovirus in Scotland was 72 in the week ending February 27.

This number is likely to be lower than the rate of transmission in the community in Scotland, PHS have said.

Professor Sheer Gharbia, gastrointestinal pathogens and food safety directorate at UKHSA, said: "Norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting bug, has been at lower levels than normal throughout the pandemic but as people have begun to mix more, the numbers of outbreaks have started to increase again."

So what norovirus symptoms you should keep an eye out for

Norovirus, commonly known as the 'winter vomiting bug', is one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK which can be caught at any time, according to NHS Scotland.

In the cases of suspected norovirus, Scots are being warned to avoid their GP due to its transmissibility.

The main symptoms of the virus include:

1. Suddenly feeling sick
2. Projectile vomiting
3. Watery diarrhoea
4. Fever
5. Headaches
6. Painful stomach cramps
7. Aching limbs

Symptoms generally appear one or two days after you become infected with the virus, and they usually last for up to two or three days.

If symptoms worsen you should consider taking paracetamol and get plenty of rest.

You should also drink more fluids than usual to replace the ones lost from vomiting and diarrhoea. This can be fruit juice, soup or water.

How to prevent catching norovirus

It is not always possible to avoid becoming infected with norovirus, but there are some measures you can take to avoid the illness from spreading.

These include:

• Staying off work for at least 48 hours after the norovirus symptoms have stopped
• Avoid visiting anyone in hospital during this time
• Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water - especially after using the toilet and before prepare or handling food

Remember alcohol based gels do not kill the virus.