It often starts suddenly: nausea at your desk, then vomiting, then diarrhoea. As autumn turns to winter, the stomach bug Norwegians call omgangssyke ("going-around sickness") becomes common in Drammen's barnehager, schools and workplaces. Most people recover on their own within a few days. The most important thing you can do is keep your fluids up, and know which signs mean it is time to contact a doctor.
What is omgangssyke?
Omgangssyke is the everyday Norwegian word for a viral infection of the stomach and bowel that causes vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea and stomach cramps. Some people also get a fever, headache and aching muscles. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) says the illness is usually mild and passes by itself within one to three days in healthy people. Symptoms typically begin 12–48 hours after infection, and it is most common in winter and late autumn.
In children it can last a little longer. According to NHI, vomiting most often lasts one to two days, while diarrhoea can continue for three to seven days.
A typical stomach bug does not need a doctor's appointment. Your fastlege (GP), the out-of-hours legevakt on 116 117, and 113 for emergencies are the three numbers worth saving in your phone. Rules for sick leave and a doctor's note depend on your employer and contract, so check with your workplace.
Fluids are what matter most
The most serious risk with vomiting and diarrhoea is not the virus itself but losing more fluid and salts than you take in. Helsenorge points out that dehydration is the most serious consequence of diarrhoea. The advice is simple:
- Drink small amounts, often. Small sips at regular intervals are easier to keep down than a whole glass.
- Use an oral rehydration solution from a pharmacy (apotek) if you can. It contains a suitable balance of salt and sugar. Plain water also works.
- Avoid very sugary and caffeinated drinks. Undiluted soft drinks and juice can make diarrhoea worse.
- Eat when you can. You do not need to fast. Easy foods such as crackers, bread, soup, yoghurt or grated apple are usually fine.
Both Helsenorge and NHI generally advise against over-the-counter products that stop diarrhoea, because diarrhoea is the body's way of clearing the virus. These products should not be used by children under 12, or if there is blood or mucus in the stool. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.
Children and dehydration: what to look for
Small children dry out faster than adults, so the younger the child, the lower your threshold for getting advice. NHI describes three levels, and it is the overall picture that counts:
- Mild: the child drinks by themselves, is in good spirits, plays as usual and passes urine almost as normal.
- Moderate: the child is restless or irritable, very thirsty, passes less urine and it is darker. The mouth may look dry.
- Severe: the child is limp and unusually quiet, has sunken eyes and a dry mouth, and passes little or no urine.
With vomiting and diarrhoea, NHI recommends small, frequent amounts – for young children that can mean a teaspoon every five minutes. Breastfed babies should keep feeding as often as they can.
If your child is "not themselves" – limp, drowsy or no longer interested in playing – that is a signal to get in touch, no matter how many times they have vomited. You know your child best.
When should you contact a doctor?
Most people do not need an appointment. But contact your GP – or the legevakt outside opening hours – if:
- you or your child cannot keep enough fluids down, or have not passed urine for many hours (NHI mentions 6–8 hours for sick children and 4–6 hours for babies)
- a baby has heavy vomiting or diarrhoea – the threshold is always low for babies
- there is blood in the stool or the vomit
- you have severe stomach pain or a high fever, or feel unwell for a long time
- diarrhoea has not settled after about a week
- you are elderly, have a known condition that makes you more vulnerable, or have recently been discharged from hospital
In Drammen you can call the legevakt on 116 117 when the GP surgery is closed and you need to be assessed the same day. Call 113 if someone is very hard to wake, unresponsive, or having trouble breathing. For more on common winter infections, see our guide to winter infections in adults.
How long should you stay home?
The virus is very contagious. You spread it most while you are vomiting and have diarrhoea, but you can still pass it on after you feel better. FHI says most people shed less of the virus after about 48 hours. What to do depends on your situation:
- Ordinary work and school: you can normally return once you feel well, but be extra careful with hand washing for the first days.
- Barnehage (nursery): keep your child at home while they have symptoms, and send them back only 48 hours after the last vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Food handlers and healthcare staff: wait 48 hours after symptoms have stopped before returning to work with food or patients.
If you have a child in barnehage, our article on barnehage illnesses and when to keep your child home has more detail.
Stopping it from spreading in your household
- Wash hands with soap and running water after the toilet, before food and after caring for someone sick. According to FHI, alcohol hand gel works less well against norovirus.
- Use disposable paper to dry your hands rather than a shared towel.
- Wipe up vomit and stool straight away with paper, then clean with soap and water. On surfaces that tolerate it, diluted bleach (klorin) can be used.
- Wash soiled clothes and bedding at a high temperature.
Not sure whether to come in?
Hotvet legesenter is at Rosenkrantzgata 75 in central Drammen. If you are not yet registered with a GP here, you can see which of our doctors have available places.
See available GP places