Norovirus is a very contagious virus that can infect anyone. You can get it from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed. This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up. These symptoms can be serious for some people, especially young children and older adults.

Anyone can be infected with norovirus and get sick. Also, you can have norovirus illness many times in your life. Norovirus illness can be serious, especially for young children and older adults.

Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States. Each year, it causes 19-21 million illnesses and contributes to 56,000-71,000 hospitalizations and 570-800 deaths. Norovirus is also the most common cause of foodborne-disease outbreaks in the United States.

The best way to help prevent norovirus is to practice proper hand washing and general cleanliness.

Norovirus can be found in your stool (feces) even before you start feeling sick. The virus can stay in your stool for 2 weeks or more after you feel better.

You are most contagious

• when you are sick with norovirus illness, and
• during the first few days after you recover from norovirus illness.

You can become infected with norovirus by accidentally getting stool or vomit from infected people in your mouth. This usually happens by

• eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus,
• touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus then putting your fingers in your mouth, or
• having contact with someone who is infected with norovirus (for example, caring for or sharing food or eating utensils with someone with norovirus illness).

Norovirus can spread quickly in closed places like daycare centers, nursing homes, schools, and cruise ships. Most norovirus outbreaks happen from November to April in the United States.

SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF NOROVIRUS: Diarrhea/Vomiting/Nauses/Dehydration/Stomach Pain/Fever/Headache/Bodyaches.

If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill and throw up or have diarrhea many times a day. This can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses.

A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days.

You are most contagious when you have symptoms with the norovirus, during the first few days after you have recovered from norovirus.

You can become infected with norovirus by accidentally getting stool or vomit from infected people in your mouth. This usually happens by

• eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus,
• touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus then putting your fingers in your mouth, or
• having contact with someone who is infected with norovirus (for example, caring for or sharing food or eating utensils with someone with norovirus illness or kissing someone with the virus).

What areas are with higher probability in having the disease?  PUBLIC PLACES in particularly the following:

Norovirus can spread quickly in closed places like daycare centers, nursing homes, schools, and cruise ships. Most norovirus outbreaks happen from November to April in the United States.  I personally was on a cruise that ended up having this and was from the previous trip the ship took but didn’t find out about it till I saw a note with my husband on our pillows in our ship room at that point we were given the opportunity to cancel and reschedule our trip.  Cruise line tactic to now have you cancel the trip and not return your bags till the end of the ship cruise along with all that going through security like us we stayed on and took the chance.  I ended up not with it or my husband and the cruise went to simple infection control techniques to strict when it affected the people which offended many but not us.  Being an RN several years I understood they were doing better infection control tactics but should have started from day one and explained to all.  That could be hard on a cruise of people not just from USA.

Protect Yourself and Others from Norovirus

• Practice proper hand hygiene
  Wash your hands carefully with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers and always before eating or preparing food. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. These alcohol-based products can help reduce the number of germs on your hands, but they are not a substitute for washing with soap and water.
• Take care in the kitchen
  Carefully rinse fruits and vegetables, and cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before eating.
• Do not prepare food while infected
  People with norovirus illness should not prepare food for others while they have symptoms and for at least 2 days after they recover from their illness. Also see For Food Workers: Norovirus and Working with Food.
• Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces
  After throwing up or having diarrhea, immediately clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces using a bleach-based household cleaner as directed on the product label. If no such cleaning product is available, you can use a solution made with 5 tablespoons to 1.5 cups of household bleach per 1 gallon of water.
• Wash laundry thoroughly
  Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with vomit or stool. Handle soiled items carefully—try not to shake them —to avoid spreading virus. If available, wear rubber or disposable gloves while handling soiled clothing or linens and wash your hands after handling. Wash soiled items with detergent at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dry.

Regarding the treatment,  unfortunately there is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness. Norovirus infection cannot be treated with antibiotics because it is a viral (not a bacterial) infection. If you have norovirus illness, you should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost from throwing up and diarrhea.  Give children an oral rehydration solution (like pedialyte) to replace lost fluids and  electrolytes.  Avoid sugary drinks, which can make diarrhea worse, as well as alcohol and caffeinated beverages, which can dehydrate you further.

Good hygiene is the key to preventing an infection with norovirus, especially when you are in close surroundings with a lot of other people.

“National Bullying Prevention Month is a campaign in the United States founded in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Initially held the first week in October, the event was expanded in 2010 to the entire month.  Celebrating 15 year (2006-2015) anniversary! ”

PACER (www.pacer.org)

“ADHD Awareness Month is celebrated every October,  the facts to know on ADHD

• Males are almost three times more likelyTrusted Source to be diagnosed with ADHD than females.
• During their lifetimes, 13 percent of menTrusted Source will be diagnosed with ADHD. Just 4.2 percent of women will be diagnosed.
• The average ageTrusted Source of ADHD diagnosis is 7 years old.
• Symptoms of ADHD typically first appear between the ages of 3 and 6Trusted Source.
• ADHD isn’t just a childhood disorder. About 4 percent of American adults over the age of 18 deal with ADHD on a daily basis.”

Healthline (www.healthline.com)

What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most well-recognized childhood developmental problems. This condition is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It is now known that these symptoms continue into adulthood for about 60% of children with ADHD. That translates into 4% of the U.S. adult population, or 8 million adults. However, few adults are identified or treated for adult ADHD.

ADHD in Adults

Adults with ADHD may have difficulty following directions, remembering information, concentrating, organizing tasks, or completing work within time limits. If these difficulties are not managed appropriately, they can cause associated behavioral, emotional, social, vocational, and academic problems.

Adult ADHD Statistics

• ADHD afflicts approximately 3% to 10% of school-aged children and an estimated 60% of those will continue to have symptoms that affect their functioning as adults.
• Prevalence rates for ADHD in adults are not as well determined as rates for children, but fall in the 4% to 5% range.
• ADHD affects males at higher rate than females in childhood, but this ratio seems to even out by adulthood.

Common Behaviors and Problems of Adult ADHD

The following behaviors and problems may stem directly from ADHD or may be the result of related adjustment difficulties:

• Anxiety
• Chronic boredom
• Chronic lateness and forgetfulness
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating when reading
• Difficulty controlling anger
• Employment problems
• Impulsiveness
• Low frustration tolerance
• Low self-esteem
• Mood swings
• Poor organization skills or messy (clutters in the office or in the house)
• Procrastination
• Relationship problems
• Substance abuse or addiction

These behaviors may be mild to severe and can vary with the situation or be present all of the time. Some adults with ADHD may be able to concentrate if they are interested in or excited about what they are doing. Others may have difficulty focusing under any circumstances. Some adults look for stimulation, but others avoid it. In addition, adults with ADHD can be withdrawn and antisocial, or they can be overly social, going from one relationship to the next.

School-Related Impairments Linked to Adult ADHD

Adults with ADHD may have:

• Had a history of poorer educational performance and been underachievers
• Had more frequent school disciplinary actions
• Had to repeat a grade
• Dropped out of school more often

Work-Related Impairments Linked to Adult ADHD

Adults with ADHD are more likely to:

• Change employers frequently and perform poorly
• Have less job satisfaction and fewer occupational achievements, independent of psychiatric status

Social-Related Impairments Linked to Adult ADHD

Adults with ADHD are more likely to:

• Have a lower socioeconomic status
• Have driving violations such as being cited for speeding, having their license suspended, and being involved in more crashes
• Rate themselves and others as using poorer driving habits
• Use illegal substances more frequently
• Smoke cigarettes
• Self-report psychological maladjustment more often

When ADHD enters the bedroom, distraction, wandering thoughts, and a lack of desire usually aren’t far behind. In fact, sexual boredom is one of the biggest complaints among ADHD couples, and a major reason behind their high divorce rate. Unfortunately, even when couples are sexually active, ADHD symptoms can interfere with emotional and sexual intimacy, leaving one or both partners feeling unconnected, alone, and sexually frustrated or unsatisfied.

Looking at ADHD & when intimacy just doesn’t jive.

Hurt feelings, confusion, and resentment can build and fester when one or both partners feel emotionally and/or sexually unsatisfied. If misinformation or misunderstanding is the main culprit, a marriage counselor or sex therapist can help the non-ADHD spouse understand how the disorder affects sexual desire and performance.

For instance, many ADHD partners are too hyperactive to relax and get in the mood. Instead of shutting out the world and focusing on their partner, they’re distracted by their racing thoughts. Others are distracted by loud music, even if it’s romantic. Instead of focusing on their partner, they may start singing along or talking about how much they loved the last concert.

How to Improve Sexual Intimacy

Provided there aren’t emotional distractions or barriers interfering with intimacy, it’s possible to overcome distractions that may prevent an ADHD spouse from being able to focus on, respond to, or enjoy sexual intimacy.

The following are some strategies for turning up the heat in your ADHD marriage or relationship.

• Talk openly about what turns your ADHD spouse on — and off. If she’s super-sensitive to scented oils or lotions, finds music more distracting than romantic, or can’t stand your scratchy beard, get rid of it.
• Be open to new experiences. ADHD adults love novelty, so don’t be afraid to introduce something new to ward off ADHD boredom. Make sure you’re both comfortable with it before trying anything. If your ADHD spouse isn’t comfortable with it, it’s likely to become yet another ADHD distraction.
• Practice being in the moment. To help your hyperactive partner stay in the now, try doing yoga, tai chi, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or massage as a couple. Then move the relaxed togetherness into the bedroom.
• Let go of libido-killers. When ADHD symptoms make your ADHD spouse unreliable, it may force you into assuming the role of parent. Once the child/parent pattern becomes the norm in a relationship, romance and sexuality between partners usually declines. If you and your partner are trapped in this pattern, work with a therapist to rebalance your relationship so you’re both equal partners.
• Make a date. If conflicting schedules are preventing you and your partner from having fun together, playing together, or hooking up, make a date and put it on the calendar. Then commit to it.

Lasting Happiness and Love

While ADHD poses disadvantages in a relationship, it also has many advantages. Opposites often attract, so if you’re the steady, reliable, and dependable type who could use a jolt of spontaneity, impulsivity, novelty, and excitement, an ADHD spouse may be just what the doctor ordered. On the other hand, if you’re an ADHD adult who has trouble balancing his checkbook, matching his socks, or remembering to feed the dog, a non-ADHD spouse could be the gift from heaven you’ve been searching for.

While it may take some effort, it’s possible for an ADHD relationship to have a happy and permanent ending. An ADHD spouse needs to take responsibility for his disorder rather than use it as an excuse for his problems.

In addition, the non-ADHD spouse needs to remember that she’s married to someone who’s wired a little differently than most people. While an ADHD marriage may not always run like clockwork, it could be a lot more lively and fun.

Treatment for ADHD or ADD in adults:

• Individual Therapy
• ADD Coaching
• Medication
• ADHD/ADD centers
• Neurofeedback Training for ADD/ADHD

“Nearly every mainstream medical, psychological, and educational organization in the United States long ago concluded that Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a real, brain-based medical disorder. These organizations also concluded that children and adults with ADHD benefit from appropriate treatment.”

ADHD Awareness (www.adhdawarenessmonth.org)

“If you haven’t taken a deep breath lately, take the time to take one now. Just notice the air flowing through your airway, feel it rest in your lungs as it’s exchanged for carbon dioxide, and then exhale as it flows back out into the world.

“The World Health Assembly recently declared that violence has become a major and growing public health problem internationally. Studies have shown that violence—an extreme expression of aggression toward others—and suicide—an extreme manifestation of aggression directed against the self, overlap to a certain extent. Researchers have long attempted to better understand why some individuals act out aggression toward themselves while others express their anger outwardly. Part of the answer appears to lie in identifying the negative thought processes experienced by those who are at high risk for either suicide or violence.”

Psychology Today (“Insight into the violent mind”) January 2019

“Domestic violence (also referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV), dating abuse, or relationship abuse) is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship.  Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate. People of any race, age, gender, sexuality, religion, education level, or economic status can be a victim — or perpetrator — of domestic violence. That includes behaviors that physically harm, intimidate, manipulate or control a partner, or otherwise force them to behave in ways they don’t want to, including through physical violence, threats, emotional abuse, or financial control.  Multiple forms of abuse are usually present at the same time in abusive situations.”

National Domestic Violence Hotline  (www.thehotline.org)