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A viral stomach bug has people vomiting and complaining of diarrhea and fever in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri—and it’s spreading fast, according to health officials there. Symptoms are self-limiting and last approximately 1–3 days, but have been causing serious dehydration in some patients. Recommended supportive care includes rest, increased fluid intake, and acetaminophen. Because the virus is spread through person-to-person contact, patients should be advised to avoid hugging, shaking hands, and any touching unless necessary. Those around ill patients should not touch surfaces or eat food that has been touched by them. As is advised when any contagious virus is on the rise, thorough handwashing should also be recommended for all.
Stomach Bug Sweeps Through the Central U.S.