Diarrhea Channel
Topics & Medications
Quicklinks
Related Channels
Norovirus Prognosis
In most cases of infection with a norovirus, the prognosis for an infected person involves experiencing symptoms such as vomiting for 1 to 2 days. However, the disease varies from person to person, and a norovirus prognosis can be different for someone with a weakened immune system, or in infants and the elderly.
Norovirus gastroenteritis is usually not serious, although people may feel very sick and vomit many times a day. Most people get better within 1 or 2 days, and they have no long-term health effects related to their illness.
However, sometimes people are unable to drink enough liquids to replace the fluids lost because of vomiting and diarrhea. These people can become dehydrated and may need special medical attention. This problem with dehydration is usually only seen among the very young, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
There is no evidence to suggest that an infected person can become a long-term carrier of norovirus.
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD