Take good care of your baby


Are you one of the thousands of Brits hit by 'the winter vomiting virus?'

The media has been reporting that we are innecessarily the case and there can be small
the midst of a viral 'epidemic' withthings you can do to take precautions and
thousands of cases of Norovirus, often knownhelp prevent you and your family from
as the "winter vomiting virus" in Britain atsuccumbing.
the start of the year. This virus is often
around during the winter months, but thisDoctors have advised that if you stay at home
year, according to media reports, thousandsfor two days once the vomiting and diarrhea
of people have suffered from the bug in thehas passed, then this should mean that you
past few weeks, with NHS Direct reportingare no longer contagious and therefore should
over 13,000 calls in 24 hours and hospitalnot pass the virus along. Therefore, don't
wards  being  shut  down  to stop the spread.feel guilty about not rushing back to work.
In the same vane, don't have visitors or go
Symptoms of the virus include sudden nausea,visiting - "batten down the hatches" instead
vomiting and diarrhea, with some people alsoand keep the virus contained. Be especially
suffering from fevers, headaches and achinghygienic by washing your hands often; this
limbs. Most people tend to feel better aftercan help you stop the virus from spreading
one or two days, but again this year thearound  the  family.
media are reporting that symptoms are often
lasting  up  to  five  days.But what if you do catch the virus?
Unfortunately there is no 'miracle cure' and
The virus is highly contagious, so oftenantibiotics don't work on viruses, so doctors
whole families can be hit as they care forare recommending simple remedies to help
someone else who has the virus. Nurseries,patients feel better. Paracetamol may help
hospitals and schools are also at higher riskwith the aches and pains and people should
of infection as many people share closedrink plenty of fluids to avoid getting
quarters, as demonstrated by the amount ofdehydrated. Some people are more at risk
hospitals taking action to stem the spread offrom dehydration - babies and very young
the virus. The germ can be spread via allchildren as well as the more elderly so if
sorts of everyday household items, sitting onyou are worried, then ring your GP for
door handles, cups or wash basins foradvice.
example.
If you are suffering from the winter vomiting
Often, many people feel that they are at thevirus or looking after someone else who is
mercy of viruses - that it's a game of chancesuffering, you can find health advice at most
as to whether you catch the "bug" or if ithigh street pharmacies or your local health
passes you by. However, this isn'tcentre.



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