These symptoms indicate a norovirus infection during pregnancy
The symptoms of an infection with noroviruses during pregnancy hardly differ from the symptoms of non-pregnant women. The infection usually begins very acutely with severe malaise, abdominal pain, nausea, and severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Vomiting and diarrhoea occur together in most patients, but rarely there is only vomiting or only diarrhoea.
Often there are also accompanying symptoms such as headache and aching limbs. A slight fever can also occur. Those affected usually feel considerably weakened.
Are there tests that detect the Norovirus?
There are various laboratory chemical test procedures that make it possible to detect infection with noroviruses. In all test procedures, a sample of vomit or diarrhea from the patient must be taken and sent to a laboratory. How long such a detection takes depends on the type of test procedure.
Treatment of a norovirus infection during pregnancy
There is no specific treatment for norovirus infection, even during pregnancy. Therefore, a purely symptomatic therapy is used. This means that the symptoms are alleviated as much as possible.
The most important thing in a norovirus infection during pregnancy is to compensate for the often pronounced fluid deficiency, which is caused by the severe fluid loss through vomiting and diarrhoea. The necessary daily drinking amount increases dramatically. Normally, a drinking quantity of 1.5-2 liters per day is recommended.
If the body loses additional fluid due to vomiting and diarrhoea, all the fluid that is lost must be replaced. The necessary daily fluid intake can therefore quickly increase to 4-5 liters. Pregnant women, children and elderly patients in particular are at particularly high risk of dehydration desiccosis.
For this reason, in some cases inpatient treatment must be considered for these patients. During this time, fluid can be supplied via the vein in the form of infusions.The advantage is that the infusion solutions contain not only water but also the electrolytes contained in the blood such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and chloride, which are also lost with vomiting and diarrhoea. Infusion therapy can therefore be particularly useful in cases of pronounced fluid loss and patients at increased risk – including pregnant women.
Occasionally, antiemetics, i.e. agents to reduce nausea, or drugs such as paracetamol for indisposition and pain in the limbs are also used. Especially during pregnancy, the use of any kind of medication should generally be weighed up more critically and discussed beforehand with the family doctor or gynecologist treating the patient. During an acute norovirus infection there is usually no appetite whatsoever. Nevertheless – especially during pregnancy – it is important to eat at least some food. For example, vegetable broth, gruel soup and rusk are recommended.
