Cases of norovirus and the flu are jumping around the country. Both viruses can make you sick for days. Here\u2019s what infectious disease doctors want you to know about the differences between the viruses.<\/p>\n
If it feels like everyone is sick right now, you\u2019re not imagining things. Flu season<\/a> is in full force, and cases are jumping<\/a> around the country thanks to an intense strain known as subclade K<\/a>. That\u2019s happening alongside an increase in cases of norovirus<\/a>. While these are two very different viruses, they\u2019re being lumped together right now as people talk about the onslaught of winter illnesses swirling around. In terms of norovirus vs. the flu, how do you tell which you have when some symptoms overlap?<\/p>\n There are a few key differences, but these viruses also have some things in common. Sick with something and aren\u2019t sure what it is? The only way to know for sure is to see a healthcare provider. But there are a few key signs that you could be dealing with one virus over the other. Meet the experts: Thomas Russo, M.D.,<\/a> professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York; William Schaffner, M.D.,<\/a> an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Am<\/a>esh A. Adalja, M.D.,<\/a> a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what infectious disease doctors want you to keep in mind.<\/p>\n Norovirus vs. flu: Symptoms<\/p>\n These viruses don\u2019t overlap much in terms of symptoms. \u201cThe flu is principally a respiratory infection. It involves the head, nose, throat, and chest,\u201d says William Schaffner, M.D.,<\/a> an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. \u201cNorovirus is an intestinal infection. It involves the stomach and the rest of the intestines. We think of them as quite different illnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not as common, but the flu can sometimes cause GI issues as well, points out Am<\/a>esh A. Adalja, M.D.,<\/a> a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. \u201cIn some cases, gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting can occur with influenza,\u201d he says. \u201cThis is more common in pediatric patients, as the virus can cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a breakdown of the symptoms of norovirus, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC):<\/p>\n Diarrhea Vomiting Nausea Stomach pain Fever Headache Body aches<\/p>\n These are the main symptoms of the flu, per the CDC<\/a>:<\/p>\n Fever or feeling feverish Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Muscle or body aches Headaches Fatigue <\/p>\n \u201cThe most important difference is that with norovirus, you feel like you want to die for that period when you have double-orifice disease with vomiting and diarrhea,\u201d says Thomas Russo, M.D.,<\/a> professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. \u201cGenerally, as long as everyone adequately hydrates, norovirus is not a lethal disease. But flu is potentially a lethal disease.\u201d <\/p>\n Norovirus vs. flu: Infection<\/p>\n Norovirus and flu have a few things in common in terms of how you get each. <\/p>\n Norovirus is \u201chighly contagious,\u201d Dr. Russo says, noting that it only takes a few viral particles to make you sick. \u201cThe virus is in gastrointestinal secretions,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you get those on your hands and then touch your mouth, you could get sick.\u201d You can also get norovirus from eating contaminated food (like reports that berries may contain norovirus<\/a>), and even from breathing in viral particles that are aerosolized when someone with the virus vomits, Dr. Russo says. <\/p>\n Norovirus can live on hard surfaces for up to two weeks<\/a>, by the way, and is a germ that hand sanitizer won\u2019t kill<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can get the flu by coming into contact with droplets and aerosols released by people with the virus, Dr. Russo says. It\u2019s possible to get the flu from touching an infected surface and then touching your hands, nose, and mouth, but he points out that this is less common than the other ways we just listed. <\/p>\n There\u2019s a difference in how long these illnesses last, too. \u201cNorovirus lasts a few days before symptoms abate; influenza about a week, though cough and fatigue may persist longer,\u201d Dr. Adalja says. <\/p>\n Norovirus vs. flu: Treatment<\/p>\n There are some big differences in how these illnesses are treated. \u201cInfluenza is treated with antiviral therapies as well as symptomatic medication, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen,\u201d Dr. Adalja says. (The most common antiviral medication for the flu is oseltamivir, a.k.a. Tamiflu.)<\/p>\n But norovirus doesn\u2019t have a specific antiviral medication. Instead, medications like Pepto-Bismol may help, according to Dr. Adalja. If the nausea and vomiting are really bad, doctors may prescribe an antiemetic medication to help you keep things down, Dr. Russo says. However, the big focus is on staying hydrated, he says. <\/p>\n Norovirus vs. flu: Prevention<\/p>\n The best way to protect yourself from the flu is to get vaccinated against the virus, Dr. Schaffner says. \u201cWe don\u2019t have a vaccine against norovirus, unfortunately,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n
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