Norovirus In Infants: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment 

Norovirus is a virus that spreads through contaminated food and water, leading to severe gastroenteritis, which causes diarrhea and vomiting (1). The virus is known by several names, such as stomach bug, vomiting bug, or winter vomiting bug. The norovirus infection is commonly referred to as food poisoning or stomach flu.

Anyone can get a norovirus infection, including babies. Infants and toddlers could be at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms and related complications. Read on as we share more about the symptoms, risk factors, treatment, and prevention of norovirus infection in babies.

Is Norovirus Dangerous To Babies?

Norovirus infection could be particularly severe in children younger than five years. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 200 million cases of norovirus infection occur in children below the age of five years globally (2). Most children affected are between the ages of six months and two years (3).

Infants and toddlers may need hospitalization and emergency pediatric visits due to prolonged norovirus symptoms and dehydration. Babies are also more prone to long-term complications, which may often be fatal.

How Does A Baby Get Norovirus? 

A baby could contract norovirus in the following ways (4) (5).

1. Contaminated food

Those with norovirus infection shed millions of viruses in their stool and vomit. If the stool or vomit reaches a water body and the water comes in contact with a food item, then it becomes a disease vector (an agent that transmits a pathogen). A food item may also come in direct contact with fecal matter or vomit.

Babies older than six months could contract the virus through the consumption of contaminated food. The virus may reach the food in the following ways.

• Contamination at the source. Vegetables irrigated or washed with contaminated water or seafood reared in water contaminated with fecal matter.
• Contamination during storage. The food item is stored at a place/shelf where there are tiny particles of fecal matter or droplets of vomit.
• Contamination during handling. The food is handled by an infected person who did not wash their hands after using the toilet or vomiting.

2. Contaminated water

A baby can ingest norovirus by drinking contaminated water. The virus may reach the water in the following ways.

• Water is from a contaminated source, such as a river used for open defecation or a lake that also happens to be a reservoir for wastewater.
• Water becomes accidentally contaminated. An example is a household well, which receives a trickle of sewage water due to an underground leak.

3. Contaminated surfaces 

It is usually a less common yet possible cause for the spread of the virus. The baby can get norovirus when they touch any surface contaminated by the virus and then place their hands in their mouth. A surface may become contaminated in the following ways.

• An infected person did not wash their hands after using the toilet or vomiting and touched a surface or object, such as a toy, which is commonly used by the baby.
• An infected person vomited near a baby, causing droplets of vomit to settle on various surfaces around the baby, including their clothes.

Risk Factors For Norovirus Infection

The following scenarios and situations could increase the baby’s risk of developing norovirus illness.

• The baby mostly stays near to an infected person, such as a parent or sibling.
• The baby spends time in closed spaces, such as daycare centers, where there are higher chances of coming in contact with contaminated surfaces.
• The baby’s hands are not washed after coming from outdoors.
• The parents have norovirus infection and do not wash hands or maintain adequate personal hygiene. It can cause the parents to spread the virus to the baby’s food.
• The parents do not wash hands after changing the baby’s diapers, causing the spread of the virus from one child to another.
• The baby is given uncooked food or unfiltered water.
• Babies younger than six months could also develop the infection if served unclean water or if their formula milk is prepared using contaminated water.

Symptoms Of Norovirus Infection

Norovirus is highly contagious, and ingestion of fewer than 100 viruses is sufficient to develop an infection (6). The signs and symptoms usually emerge between 12 to 48 hours, although they may emerge within a few hours after contracting the virus (7).

The virus causes inflammation of the intestinal and stomach walls — a condition known as gastroenteritis. Below are the signs of norovirus-induced gastroenteritis in babies (8).

• Vomiting is the most common sign of norovirus infection among children
• Watery diarrhea that does not contain blood
• Stomach pain
• Persistent nausea
• Headache and body ache
• Fever
• Loss of appetite

The baby may also display frequent crying, lethargy, and loss of interest in playing or other activities that they usually enjoy.

Consult a doctor as soon as you notice any of these signs and symptoms. Infants and toddlers are particularly prone to gastroenteritis complications, which can be averted through timely medical intervention.

Diagnosis Of Norovirus Infection

The doctor will check for the presence of watery diarrhea and vomiting, which usually indicate gastroenteritis. The following diagnostic procedures help determine norovirus infection (9).

• Frequency of pooping and vomiting: The number of times the baby poops and vomits could help the doctor determine the type and severity of gastroenteritis. Parents may also be asked about the baby’s feeding pattern and the presence of other symptoms, such as fever.
• Stool culture: A stool sample could be collected from the baby’s diaper. The test is often sufficient to determine the presence of the virus in stools.
• Blood tests: It will detect the presence of antibodies specific to norovirus. Blood tests may be conducted to rule out the presence of other infections or complications.

Treatment For Norovirus Infection

There is no medicine to cure norovirus infection in babies (10). Antibiotics do not work against viruses. Supportive home care can manage symptoms. The following management steps can help a baby with norovirus infection feel better (11) (12).

1. Adequate rest. Let the baby have frequent naps and avoid taking them outdoors or involving them in any physical activity. Rest is essential for the body to fight away the infection.
2. Provide adequate hydration. Babies older than six months can be provided frequent sips of water. You can also provide electrolyte solution. The concentration of electrolyte solution will depend on the baby’s body weight. Therefore, consult a doctor to determine the exact quantity of oral rehydration solution (ORS) needed for your baby. You may prefer premix electrolyte solutions that have a precise quantity of electrolytes needed for the baby.
3. Increase breastfeeding. You may increase the number of breastfeeding sessions to provide adequate nourishment. It is often the only source of fluids and nutrients for babies younger than six months.
4. Modify formula. If your baby is on a formula diet, speak to a doctor and change it to the one that works well during gastroenteritis.
5. Serve BRAT diet. Babies older than six months can be served a BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast diet. These food items are bland and easy-to-digest, making them gentle on a digestive system affected by gastroenteritis.
6. Serve bland food items. Once your baby starts feeling better, you may serve other bland food items, such as plain noodles, cooked potatoes, soups, cooked vegetables, and salted crackers.

Never give over-the-counter medications to babies without consulting a doctor. In most cases, rest and rehydration are sufficient to make the baby feel better. Your doctor may prescribe you medicines for fever or severe vomiting.

How Long Does Norovirus Infection Last In Babies? 

The infection lasts up to three days in most babies and toddlers. Infection with severe vomiting and diarrhea may last up to six days. Babies may continue to have mild diarrhea for up to a week, even after the infection subsides. The baby will continue to shed the virus in the stool for a few days after full recovery. Therefore, you must continue to maintain good hygiene to prevent reinfection.

Complications Of Norovirus Infection

Most babies seldom experience any adverse effects of norovirus infection. However, some babies, especially those who receive inadequate home care or those with a compromised immune system, could be at risk of complications.

Dehydration is the leading complication that could occur due to constant loss of fluids and electrolytes through diarrhea and vomiting. Malnutrition may occur temporarily if the baby is not provided a healthy diet. In rare cases, immunocompromised babies and premature infants may develop necrotizing enterocolitis where the intestinal tissue necrotizes (begins to die) (13).

Parents must be alert to signs of dehydration that include the following (14).

• Less urination; fewer than six wet diapers a day
• Dark, concentrated urine
• Fewer or no tears while crying
• Parched mouth
• Severe fussiness
• Excessive sleepiness
• Sunken eyes
• Sunken soft spot or fontanel on the skull
• Hands and feet are unusually cold to touch

Babies who present these signs during doctor’s visit could be immediately referred for hospitalization. The baby will receive intravenous rehydration and nutrition for stabilization of the body’s electrolyte balance.

Prevention Of Norovirus In Babies

Adequate food and personal hygiene is the only way to prevent norovirus infection in babies. There is no vaccine for norovirus.

You should observe the following practices to eliminate the risk of norovirus infection in babies (15).

1. Keep the baby away from someone who has stomach flu. If there is an outbreak, do not send your baby or toddler to daycare.
2. Wash hands with soap and water thoroughly for 20 seconds before preparing your baby’s meals or touching their belongings. It should be done even if you do not have any norovirus symptoms.
3. Clean any surfaces and objects, including baby’s toys, with baby-safe disinfectants. Not all disinfectants work on norovirus, so pick the one that is effective. Alcohol may not kill norovirus.
4. Buy vegetables, fruits, and meat from trusted sources. Wash them under running water thoroughly to rinse away any pathogens on their surfaces.
5. Cook vegetables and meats to at least 140°F or 60°C to kill norovirus. Fruits that cannot be cooked should be washed thoroughly with clean water before being served. Prefer serving the baby home-cooked food to reduce the risk of infection.
6. Serve the baby clean drinking water from a reliable source.
7. If a parent has developed a norovirus infection, they must avoid preparing meals for the baby. However, you may continue to breastfeed, preferably by feeding expressed milk. Make sure to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before expressing breast milk.
8. Wash hands each time after changing the baby’s diapers. Dispose of the diapers in a diaper pail, which should be disinfected periodically.
9. If a baby has developed norovirus infection, dispose their diapers in a sealed plastic bag to prevent transmission of infection. It is even more vital if there are other children at home.
10. Wash the infected child’s clothes separately to prevent accidental transmission. Use a baby-safe laundry disinfectant to wash the clothes.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is norovirus recurring? 

Yes, norovirus gastroenteritis may happen more than once. There is no vaccine for norovirus, and the body may not develop immunity even after a bout of infection.

2. How long does the norovirus live on surfaces?

Norovirus may stay dormant on surfaces for days or even weeks until eliminated with a disinfectant.

Norovirus illness in babies could be severe due to the potential complications, such as dehydration. The infection is avoidable through observation of good hygiene, especially during the preparation of food. If you suspect your baby has acquired stomach flu, consult a doctor soon to avoid dehydration and other related complications. 

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