Most stomach viruses clear in 1 to 3 days - norovirus typically 12 to 60 hours - though some linger up to a week, with diarrhea trailing the vomiting.
No medicine kills the virus; the whole job is avoiding dehydration: constant small sips, oral rehydration solution when losses are heavy, bland food as appetite returns. Skip anti-diarrhea drugs with bloody stool or high fever. You are contagious while sick and for a couple of days after - soap and water beats hand sanitizer against norovirus, and do not cook for others. Get help for dehydration signs (very little urine, dizziness on standing), blood in vomit or stool, severe pain, high fever, or diarrhea past three days. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you track the course.
What to do
Common questions
How long does a stomach virus last?
Most stomach viruses - viral gastroenteritis - run one to three days, and norovirus, the classic cruise-ship bug, typically burns through in 12 to 60 hours. Some bugs linger up to a week, and diarrhea can trail the vomiting by a few days. There is no medicine that kills the virus; the entire job is not getting dehydrated while it passes. Sip fluids constantly - oral rehydration solution beats plain water when losses are heavy - and eat bland food as appetite returns. Skip anti-diarrhea medicine if you have bloody stools or a high fever. You stay contagious while symptomatic and for a couple of days after, so no cooking for others and aggressive handwashing with soap (hand sanitizer is weak against norovirus). Get medical help for signs of dehydration - very little urine, dizziness standing, dry mouth - plus blood in vomit or stool, severe belly pain, a high fever, or diarrhea past about three days. Babies, older adults, and the immunocompromised get seen earlier. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you track whether yours is following the normal course.