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When it comes down to it, we spend a lot of our time in the bathroom. Orang rata-ratamay take anywhere from four to 10 trips to the toilet each day, according to the Cleveland Clinic. But if your bathroom excursions suddenly take on new urgency, you may want to seek medical guidance. Officials are now warning that cases of one troublesome virus have been steadily increasing in the U.S. over the past few months—and you'll want to give your doctor a call if you think you've come down with it. Read on to find out which symptoms you should watch out for when you go to the bathroom.

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If you're running to the bathroom with sudden vomiting and diarrhea, you could be dealing with a norovirus infection—otherwise known as the stomach flu or stomach bug. According to the Mayo Clinic, people with this infection typically experience severe diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain that starts abruptly within 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus. You might also experience other symptoms such as nausea, fever, headache, and body aches, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB.

"Norovirus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines. This is called acute gastroenteritis," the CDC explains. "If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill, and vomit or have diarrhea many times a day."

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Norovirus outbreaks are increasing in the U.S. In a typical year, there are about 2,500 reported outbreaks occurring per year in the country, according to the CDC. But in just the first few months of this year, infections have risen significantly.

Between January and March 2022, data from the CDC showed that the number of weekly norovirus outbreaks rose from below 10 to more than 50. And from Aug. 2021 to March 2022, the agency said that there were 448 reported norovirus outbreaks compared to just 78 this same time last year. A CDC spokesperson noted that the smaller rate then was likely skewed, telling NBC-affiliate KING 5 that norovirus levels had been "lower than normal" during the COVID pandemic.

But the removal of COVID protection measures and restrictions could be to blame for the rising cases now, which might not bode well for outbreak rates in the coming months. Paul Auwaerter, MD, professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and clinical director of the infectious diseases division, told the news outlet that the recent increase in norovirus infections could be related to people interacting more with others as COVID cases decline.

Getting infected with this stomach flu is rather easy, unfortunately. Norovirus is a very contagious virus that can infect people of all ages, according to the CDC. The agency explains that those already infected with can shed billions of norovirus particles, and only a few of these particles are needed to make someone else sick.

There are a number of different ways you could get norovirus. This includes eating or drinking liquids that have been contaminated with the virus, touching contaminated surfaces or objects and then putting your fingers in your mouth, or just having any direct contact with someone who is infected, according to the CDC.

"You are most contagious when you have symptoms of norovirus illness, especially vomiting, and during the first few days after you recover from norovirus illness," the agency warns. "However, studies have shown that you can still spread norovirus for two weeks or more after you feel better."

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If you are vomiting and have severe diarrhea, getting told you will need to just ride out your sickness is probably the last thing you want to hear. But according to the CDC, there is actually "no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness," so most people do recover at home by themselves.

A doctor won't be able to prescribe you antibiotics to treat your stomach bug because as a virus, it doesn't respond to this kind of treatment, Verywell Health menjelaskan. Tetapi Anda harus tetap menelepon dokter Anda jika Anda mengalami gejala norovirus untuk mendapatkan saran tentang cara menghindari dehidrasi. Muntah dan diare yang berulang akan menyebabkan Anda kehilangan cairan, yang dapat menyebabkan dehidrasi. "Dehidrasi dapat menyebabkan masalah serius," CDC memperingatkan. "Dehidrasi parah mungkin memerlukan rawat inap untuk perawatan dengan cairan yang diberikan melalui vena Anda."

Untuk dehidrasi, dokter Anda kemungkinan akan menyarankan Anda untuk minum banyak cairan menggantikan cairan dan mereka juga dapat merekomendasikan cairan rehidrasi oral over-the-counter (OTC). Tetapi dokter Anda juga dapat membantu Anda menentukan secara lebih akurat jika kemungkinan penyebab gejala Anda adalah Norovirus, menurut Klinik Mayo.

Meskipun tidak ada perawatan nyata untuk Norovirus, masalah-masalah tertentu harus meminta Anda untuk mencari perawatan medis. Menurut kesehatan sangat, Anda harus check-in dengan penyedia layanan kesehatan jika gejala Anda belum hilang dalam beberapa hari, Anda memiliki diare berdarah, Anda mengembangkan tanda-tanda dehidrasi sedang hingga berat seperti pusing, kepedulian, kelemahan, kelelahan, atau kekurangan atau urin.

"Orang-orang di atas usia 85 dan di bawah usia 5 lebih cenderung membutuhkan perawatan medis yang tidak dapat disediakan di rumah. Jika bayi atau anak Anda memiliki norovirus, hubungi penyedia Anda jika mereka muntah, sering diare, atau tunjukkan tanda-tanda dehidrasi , "Para ahli pada sangat merekomendasikan kesehatan. Sementara sebagian besar kasus flu perut sembuh sendiri, CDC melaporkan bahwa Norovirus biasanya menyebabkan sekitar 109.000 rawat inap dan sekitar 900 kematian setiap tahun di M., sebagian besar di antara orang dewasa 65 dan lebih tua.

TERKAIT:Jangan pernah meninggalkan kamar mandi sebelum melakukan ini, dokter memperingatkan.