Cases of Kawasaki Norovirus bugs in the UK are on the increase with the advent of winters and pose a greater concern to the authorities, who keep watch over the situation. The figures that are multiplying at such a pace in schools and care facilities will prove to be sensible to understand what illness is, its symptoms, and how one can protect himself and his family in such winters.
What is Kawasaki Norovirus Bug?
All this splashed across the front pages-but let’s get a few things straight first: there isn’t exactly such a thing as Kawasaki Norovirus disease. It’s simply a harbinger of an unexpected upsurge in cases of norovirus infection-one of the most nearly ubiquitous causes of gastroenteritis-and a spurt of Kawasaki-like syndrome, especially among young children.
Norovirus is sometimes called the “winter vomiting bug” because it mainly occurs during this period. It is an infectious disease and occurs in schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. **Kawasaki disease** is one of those diseases that hardly occur, but mostly among children below five years. The disease causes an inflammatory condition of blood vessels. Both these diseases occur simultaneously and thus raise these warnings.
The presentations of Norovirus and Kawasaki disease vary widely, though they may be almost indistinguishable from one another in infants and toddlers. This makes them very vital to differ for the treatments are also different.
Norovirus Variants:
It begins as an acute sequence of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Abdominal cramps and abdominal pain
Low-grade fever, chills, and body aches
Fatigue and generalized weakness
Headache and at times sore throat
Symptoms of Kawasaki Disease (in children):
More than 5 days Fever
Conjunctivae are red, without exudates
Tongue is enlarged, red, also known as “strawberry tongue”
Lips are red, cracked
Edema of hands and feet, bilaterally
Rash on almost all body parts
Cervicofacial lymphadenopathy, mainly neck.
But symptoms of Kawasaki disease does recover in 2-3 days. Kawasaki disease is significant since it involves the heart .
Modes of Transmission
Norovirus is said to be highly infectious and mainly through the route of:
Contact with infected surfaces: Contact with an infected surface or object and then touching your mouth or face.
Person to person contact: Direct close contact with an infected person, especially in crowded places.
Food or water contaminated: That has come into contact with an infected person by the infected person.
Kawasaki disease appears not to be contagious and seems to be some form of overreaction of the immune system, but nothing can be determined as to what causes the disease.
How to Avoid the Kawasaki Norovirus Bug This Winter?
The only protection against the Kawasaki Norovirus bug is good hygiene. Here are some of the most important ones.
- Hands are frequently decontaminated with hand sanitizer or washed with soap and water most importantly before eating, in contact with others, or after using the toilet. Most hand sanitisers will not kill the norovirus.
- Frequently clean frequently touched surfaces: that is, door handles and knobs, phones and countertops with a bleach-based cleaner.
- Maintain minimal direct exposure of individuals: the patient should be quarantined from all other members of the family as long as possible to reduce direct contact with the virus.
- Stay home if you or your child are sick: in case you or your child begin to show signs of being ill, remain home and abstain from going to school, work, or any aspect of socialization to reduce transference to others.
- Nutrition and hydration: The infected patient needs good hydration to avoid dehydration; that is, one of the most common causes of diarrhea and vomiting.
If you or your child have symptoms:
If the child presents with symptoms of norovirus infection, rest and hydration with a bland diet will probably reduce most of the signs and symptoms the child experiences of the gastrointestinal tract. Kawasaki disease has fever for longer than five days with swollen hands or feet so seek early not to develop complications.
This is going to downgrade the Kawasaki norovirus bug in your family and thus your family is sure to be safe during this winter if you keep vigilance and observe good hygiene practices.
Conclusion
As a matter of fact, the Kawasaki Norovirus bug is not one disease but a condition that co-occurs, mainly among children, as an association or simultaneous occurrence of the norovirus infection and symptoms resembling those of Kawasaki disease. Norovirus is highly contagious and spreads like wildfire in crowded places. On the other hand, Kawasaki disease perplexes health professionals, and for that reason, it cannot be considered as a contagious condition. Vigilance attaches to all because of their impacts on health, especially during the wintertime.
Preventing disinfection-related contamination entails proper hygiene maintenance, deep cleansing of contact surfaces, and isolation among infected individuals. Parents and caregivers must be vigilant for such symptoms as prolonged fever or gastrointestinal disorders in children and immediately consult with doctors to avoid complications.
However, they may look forward to adopting all those as well as keeping abreast of developments so that the family can be protected from the Kawasaki Norovirus bug during a cold, dark, chilling winter.
