Can norovirus cause premature labor at 28 week pregnancy?

Question

Hello doctor,

Norovirus has completely devastated our household. What started with my 6-year-old vomiting after school has cascaded into nine family members. They are violently ill, including my immunocompromised father-in-law, who is 73 years old. He is undergoing chemotherapy.

My husband has vomited 22 times in the past 12 hours. The diarrhea is explosive and completely uncontrollable. Most alarming is my father-in-law, who has become lethargic and confused after hours of illness. His oncologist warned that any infection could be life-threatening during treatment. We are also concerned about my pregnant daughter, who has been unable to keep down even sips of water for ten hours and is experiencing painful contractions at 28 weeks. Please tell me,

When should we seek emergency care?
Can norovirus trigger premature labor?
Is my father-in-law's life in danger?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

The condition of your father-in-law is really serious. He should be admitted to the hospital right away: He is showing signs of dehydration, such as confusion and lethargy, which is very serious for his condition. It could be life-threatening, so get him medical help as soon as possible.

Your pregnant daughter, who is 28 weeks pregnant, should be checked by a doctor immediately: The contractions and not being able to keep fluids down could be signs of dehydration or premature labor. She needs medical help right away to make sure everything is okay with her and the baby.

To keep your husband and other family members healthy, you can follow the menthod mention bellow,

Stay hydrated: Vomiting and diarrhea cause dehydration, so make sure everyone drinks fluids. Use oral rehydration solutions (like Pedialyte or an electrolyte drink) instead of sugary drinks like soda.

Seek help if needed: If anyone’s vomiting nonstop for over 24 hours, if they are very dizzy or weak, or if they are not peeing, they should go to the hospital.

To keep everyone in the house safe, you can maintain the following methods;

Keep things clean: Disinfect everything with bleach or a strong cleaner. Wash your hands often with soap and water, not just hand sanitizer.
Isolate sick people: Keep them in one area of the house, if possible, and try to avoid them touching shared things like towels or cups.

If someone feels very dizzy, weak, or has dark urine, they may be dehydrated and need immediate medical care.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.