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Norovirus Infection Center - Duluth, MN

Duluth Gastroenterologist Doctors for Norovirus Infection

Type of Physician: Gastroenterologist

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated.

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Common Name: GI Doctor

Gastroenterologist Doctors in Duluth *

Duluth Clinic
Johannes Aas
400 E 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 722-8364

Duluth Clinic
Johan S Bakken
400 E 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 722-8364

Duluth Clinic
Robert V Erickson
400 E 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 722-8364

Duluth Clinic
Teresa Smith
400 E 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 722-8364

Duluth Clinic
Steven J Squillace
400 E 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 722-8364

Duluth Clinic
Michael D VanNorstrand
400 E 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 722-8364

St Luke's Hospital and Regional Trauma Center
Agata Bednarz
915 E 1st St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 249-5555

Northland Gastroenterlogy PA
Daniel McKee
1420 London Rd
STE 202
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 724-3411

Duluth, Minnesota

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Norovirus Infection

What are noroviruses?

Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause gastroenteritis (GAS-tro-en-ter-I-tis) in people. Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. The term norovirus is the official name for this group of viruses; however, several other names were used previously for noroviruses:

  • Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs),
  • caliciviruses (because they belong to the virus family Caliciviridae), and
  • small round structured viruses.

Viruses are very different from bacteria and parasites, some of which can cause illnesses similar to norovirus infection. Like all viral infections, noroviruses are not affected by treatment with antibiotics and cannot grow outside of a person's body.

What are the symptoms of illness caused by noroviruses?

The symptoms of norovirus illness usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people also have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. In most people the illness is self-limiting, with symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days. In general, diarrhea is more common in children and vomiting is more common in adults.

What is the name of the illness caused by noroviruses?

Illness caused by norovirus infection has several names:

  • stomach flu—this "stomach flu" is not related to the flu (or influenza), which is a respiratory illness caused by influenza virus;
  • viral gastroenteritis -- the most common name for illness caused by norovirus. Gastroenteritis refers to an inflammation of the stomach and intestines;
  • acute gastroenteritis;
  • non-bacterial gastroenteritis;
  • food poisoning (although there are other causes of food poisoning); an...

Recommended Reading Related to Norovirus Infection

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) »

What is PCR (polymerase chain reaction)?

PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is a method to analyze a short sequence of DNA (or RNA) even in samples containing only minute quantities of DNA or RNA. PCR is used to reproduce (amplify) selected sections of DNA or RNA. Previously, amplification of DNA involved cloning the segments of interest into vectors for expression in bacteria, and took weeks. But now, with PCR done in test tubes, it takes only a few hours. PCR is highly efficient so that untold numbers of copies can be made of the DNA. Moreover, PCR uses the same molecules that nature uses for copying DNA:

  • Two "primers", short single-stranded DNA sequences that are synthesized to correspond to the beginning and ending of the DNA stretch to be copied;
  • An enzyme called polymerase that moves along the segment of DNA, reading its code and assembling a copy; and
  • A pile of DNA building blocks that the polymerase needs t...

Emergency Contact for Duluth

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Duluth Hospitals *

Miller-Dwan Medical Center
502 E Second St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218)727-8762

St Mary's Duluth Clinic Health System
407 E Third St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218)786-4000

St Luke's Hospital
915 E 1st St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218)249-5555

St Mary's Hospital Superior
3500 Tower Ave
Superior, WI 54880
(715)395-5400

Cloquet Community Memorial Hospital
512 Skyline Blvd
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218)879-4641

Lake View Memorial Hospital
325 11th Ave
Two Harbors, MN 55616
(218)834-7300

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