Community-acquired norovirus diarrhoea outbreak mimicking a community-acquired C. difficile diarrhoea outbreak

摘要

Norwalk virus is the prototypical small round structured virus (SRSV) calicivirus. Besides Norwalk virus, there are other calciviruses that cause diarrhoea. Caliciviruses, also referred to as noro-viruses, all are transmitted by the faecal-oral route. Norovirus diarrhoea is abrupt in onset. Some patients primarily manifest with vomiting, most have predominant diarrhoea whereas others may present with both vomiting and diarrhoea. Norovirus diarrhoea is often accompanied by low grade fever, abdominal cramping and malaise. Patients with norovirus symptoms are rapidly prostrated by the illness, are sick for 24-48 hand this is followed by resolution of the symptoms. There are no laboratory or clinical features which distinguish noroviruses from other viral causes of gastroenteritis.