(Norwalk virus) n. a member of a group of RNA viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis in humans. The faecal–oral route is the typical mode of transmission. Symptoms appear after an incubation period of between 24 and 48 hours. Noroviruses are highly contagious and are implicated in over 50% of all outbreaks of gastroenteritis. Symptomatic treatment with fluid replacement and electrolyte correction remains the mainstay of treatment.
n. inflammation of the stomach and intestine. It is usually due to acute viral or bacterial infection or to the ingestion of toxins in contaminated foods (see food poisoning). Clinical symptoms are vomiting, diarrhoea, and fever. The illness usually lasts 3–5 days. Fluid loss is sometimes severe, especially at the extremes of age, and intravenous fluid replacement may be necessary. Viral or viral-type organisms (e.g. the *norovirus) are common causes of highly infectious gastroenteritis and, unlike bacterial pathogens, can be spread by aerosol or minimal contact and not necessarily by the faeco-oral route.... gastroenteritis
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