What is the Difference Between Norovirus and Gastroenteritis

The key difference between norovirus and gastroenteritis is that norovirus is a virus that causes viral gastroenteritis or stomach flu, while gastroenteritis is a common medical condition that causes diarrhea and vomiting due to an infection by bacteria or virus.

Norovirus and gastroenteritis are two associated terms. This is because norovirus is a stomach bug that causes viral gastroenteritis. In gastroenteritis, the stomach and intestines are irritated and inflamed, typically caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Moreover, norovirus infection (stomach flu) and gastroenteritis may share similar characteristics, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Norovirus 
3. What is Gastroenteritis
4. Similarities – Norovirus and Gastroenteritis
5. Norovirus vs. Gastroenteritis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Norovirus vs. Gastroenteritis

What is Norovirus?

Norovirus is also known as vomiting bug or stomach bug, resulting in vomiting and diarrhea. Viral gastroenteritis caused by norovirus can be unpleasant but usually goes away in about two days. The main symptoms of a norovirus infection may include feeling sick or nauseous, diarrhea, vomiting or being sick, a high temperature, a headache, and pain or aches in the arms or legs. These symptoms may start suddenly within 1 to two days of being infected by norovirus. Norovirus can spread quickly through close contact with someone, touching surfaces or objects that contain the virus, and eating food that an infected person has prepared.

Moreover, norovirus infection can be diagnosed by physically evaluating symptoms, detecting viral RNA (genetic material) through RT-qPCR, and detecting viral antigens through ELISA, viral culture, and stool test. Furthermore, norovirus infections can be treated through antiviral medications, resting, and having lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.

What is Gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis results in inflammation and irritation of the stomach and intestine due to bacterial or viral infections. It can be caused by bacteria such as E.coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter and viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus. Sometimes, parasites can also cause gastroenteritis, like Giardia. The unusual ways of getting gastroenteritis include heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, or mercury in drinking water, eating plenty of acidic foods, seafood toxins, and medications like antibiotics, antacids, laxatives, and chemotherapy drugs. Gastroenteritis can be spread through numerous ways, such as contact with someone who has the virus, contaminated food or water, and unwashed hands after going to the bathroom or changing a diaper. The symptoms of gastroenteritis may include diarrhea, vomiting, pain in the stomach, cramping, fever, nausea, a headache, dehydration, dry mouth, blood in vomit or stools, chills, swollen abdomen, lethargy,  feeling lightheaded, being really thirsty.

Moreover, gastroenteritis can be diagnosed through questionnaires, medical history, physical examination, viral RNA and bacterial DNA detection through PCR, ELISA test for viral antigen, viral culture, and stool test. Furthermore, gastroenteritis can be treated through medications such as antivirals, antibiotics, and antiparasitic drugs, giving children an oral rehydration solution, providing an adult with as much clear fluid as possible, and resting and drinking fluids slowly in frequent and small amounts.

What are the Similarities Between Norovirus and Gastroenteritis?

• Norovirus and gastroenteritis are two associated terms.
• Norovirus can result in viral gastroenteritis.
• Both norovirus infection and gastroenteritis lead to irritation or inflammation of the stomach and intestine.
• They can be seen in people of all ages, including children and adults.
• Moreover, they may share similar symptoms, such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, lethargy, etc.
• Both norovirus infection and gastroenteritis can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, genetic material testing, viral culture, and stool test.
• They can be treated through medications such as antivirals, resting, and drinking plenty of food.

What is the Difference Between Norovirus and Gastroenteritis?

Norovirus is a virus that causes viral gastroenteritis or stomach flu, while gastroenteritis is a common medical condition that causes diarrhea and vomiting due to an infection by bacteria or viruses. Thus, this is the key difference between norovirus and gastroenteritis. Furthermore, norovirus infection is caused by a group of Norwalk-like viruses. On the other hand, gastroenteritis is caused by bacteria such as E.coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter and viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus, parasites such as Giardia, and unusual ways such as heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, or mercury in drinking water, eating a lot of acidic foods, seafood toxins and medications like antibiotics, antacids, laxatives, and chemotherapy drugs.

The infographic below presents the differences between norovirus and gastroenteritis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Norovirus vs Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is the inflammation of the stomach and intestines, which is responsible for vomiting and diarrhea. Usually, a bacterial or viral stomach bug causes it. Gastroenteritis affects people of all ages. However, it is more common in young children. Gastroenteritis is also caused by bacteria such as E.coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter and viruses such as rotavirus, parasites such as Giardia, and unusual ways such as heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, or mercury in drinking water, eating lots of acidic foods, seafood toxins and medications like antibiotics, antacids, laxatives, and chemotherapy drugs. Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes viral gastroenteritis, a form of gastroenteritis. So, this summarizes the difference between norovirus and gastroenteritis.

Reference:

1. “Norovirus.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2. Willacy, Dr Hayley. “Gastroenteritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment.” Patient.Info.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Gastroenteritis” By Scientificanimations.com (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Noroviruses, belong, genus, norovirus, family, caliciviridae” (CC0) via Pixino