Norovirus confirmed in the Hessian Haunetal

Twenty-four students in boarding school Haunetal suffer from Noro virus. A total of three patients are currently being treated in hospital.

29/01/2011

The doctors of the rescue center in Bad Hersfeld in Hesse have confirmed the suspicion of a Noro virus infection. A total of 24 students from a boarding school in Haunetal, Hesse, had to be hospitalized on Friday because of severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The doctors initially provided outpatient care to the young patients. Three students are currently still in the clinic receiving stabilizing electrolytes and fluids. According to the emergency rescue center, all children and adolescents are now on the road to recovery. Dr. Dieter Pfaff has since confirmed to the news agency "dpa" the diagnosis of Noro virus infection. The exact causes of how it came to the infection is not yet clear.

Noroviruses cause symptoms such as persistent vomiting and strong, due to sudden diarrhea. The infectious disease can be dangerous for elderly and immunocompromised patients. But also children are endangered, as then through the ongoing diarrhea the body is deprived of much liquid. The lack of fluid balance is usually compensated with infusions and the addition of electrolytes. Each year, around 300 million people worldwide contract the gastrointestinal infection. Otherwise, healthy patients survive the disease after a good 2 to 3 days. (Sb)

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Picture: Hartmut910