ST. LOUIS — Your holiday gathering might have you running to the bathroom: Doctors say this is the season for a virus that makes colds and flu seem pleasant.

Norovirus is a stomach virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, pain, nausea, fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches.

Dr. Farrin Manian is an infectious disease consultant and chief of medicine at Mercy Hospital St. Louis. He reports that more patients are coming in with gastrointestinal symptoms, “of which I’m very confident that most, if not all, are probably related to norovirus.”

Emergency rooms and doctors like Dr. Mollie Spire is also seeing more and more people with the virus that triggers toilet use. “With all the holiday celebrations and people getting together with friends and family, the situation spread pretty quickly,” explains Dr. Spire.

Health experts said norovirus spreads quickly because it persists. “It is quite stable in the environment and therefore resistant to common cleaning and disinfecting agents,” said Dr. Spire. “Bleach is best for disinfecting contaminated areas.”

The gastrointestinal virus is difficult to fight, but both Dr. Spire and Dr. Manian said washing hands helps. “Wash for at least 30 seconds at a time,” demanded Dr. Spire.

If you become infected, the doctor’s advice may not be the news you want to hear. “There is no specific antiviral that kills norovirus,” said Dr. Manian, “you really have to let it run its course.”

Doctors said norovirus usually lasts for a day or two. Dr. Spire said you can take Pepto-Bismol or Imodium to relieve symptoms.

Dr. Manian said dehydration is the most common complication of norovirus. He recommended taking small sips of fluid every 5 to 10 minutes to prevent nausea or worsen existing nausea.

For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.