--- title: "Norovirus and kids: The perfect mix" date: 2023-08-01T15:13:00-07:00 author: Julie Dueck canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/norovirus-and-kids-the-perfect-mix" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Case News](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news) / # Norovirus and kids: The perfect mix **Norovirus and kids: The perfect mix** It happens at least once a year, the dreaded norovirus wave at daycare. The first year I was cavalier, thinking, “We’ll be the lucky ones who dodge it.” We most certainly weren’t. And neither was any other family in our cohort, as far as I know. Why does this particular illness spread like wildfire when it comes to kids and daycare? Combine a bunch of little kids in diapers who put everything in their mouths with their caretakers, and it’s a predictable outcome. The symptoms are terrible and include: violent vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Symptoms usually start one to two days after the virus enters the body but could happen as soon as 12 hours after exposure. Outbreaks are more common in places where many people gather, ie daycares, schools, and cruise ships. A person becomes infected when they get tiny particles of feces or vomit from an infected person in their mouths. This can happen through direct contact, like caring for a sick child (especially when they throw up all over you), or by sharing food or utensils with them. Primary transmission through fecal-oral contact makes diapers an obvious, ubiquitous danger. Caretakers have unavoidable contact with children’s feces many, many times per day, so transmission, even with standard hand washing protocols, seems almost unavoidable. Anything that comes into contact with a diaper can become contaminated. Fecal particles from diapers can also land on nearby objects or surfaces. Then kids can get the virus after putting their hands or a toy that has been contaminated into their mouths. The good news is that most of us who have the misfortune of contracting norovirus recover within one to three days. Norovirus is a virus, so it doesn’t respond to antibiotics and treatment is supportive care only. Stay hydrated and rest while your body fights the bug. Emphasis on handwashing at home is important, especially among children who may not appreciate the importance of hygiene yet. Lastly, parents can do their part to stop outbreaks from spreading by keeping their kids home while they are still contagious. A good rule of thumb is to keep children out of school or childcare until their vomiting and diarrhea has stopped for 24 hours. This same rule applies for allowing children into pools, where they can shed the virus into the water and infect other pool goers. Call your pediatrician if your child still hasn't recovered after a few days and exhibits any of these signs: - Not drinking - Showing signs of dehydration, including fewer tears when crying, infrequent urination, or no wet diapers in four to six hours - Vomiting and diarrhea - Severe pain and/or blood in vomit or diarrhea ### Lawsuit updates about foodborne illnesses [Reactive Arthritis Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=reactive-arthritis&year=all) [E. coli Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=e-coli&year=all) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=guillain-barre-syndrome&year=all) [Salmonella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=salmonella&year=all) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hemolytic-uremic-syndrome&year=all) [Listeria Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=listeria&year=all) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=irritable-bowel-syndrome&year=all) [Hepatitis A Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hepatitis-a&year=all) [Norovirus Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=norovirus&year=all) [Botulism Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=botulism&year=all) [Campylobacter Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=campylobacter&year=all) [Shigella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=shigella&year=all) [Cyclospora Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=cyclospora&year=all) ### Lawsuits updates by year [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1998](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1998) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1999](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1999) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2000](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2000) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2001](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2001) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2002](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2002) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2003](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2003) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2004](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2004) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2005](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2005) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2006](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2006) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2007](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2007) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2008](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2008) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2009](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2009) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2010](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2010) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2011](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2011) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2012](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2012) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2013](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2013) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2014](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2014) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2015](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2015) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2016](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2016) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2017](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2017) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2018](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2018) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2019](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2019) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2020](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2020) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2021](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2021) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2022](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2022) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2023](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2023) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2024](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2024) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2025](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2025) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2026](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2026) ##### Get Help #### Affected by an outbreak or recall? 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