Stomach bugs lay thousands low as weather changes in London

London: Thousands of Londoners have been hit by a series of stomach bugs sweeping the capital.

Latest figures show almost 1,500 people sought medical advice for stomach problems last week alone.

Almost nine per cent of all Londoners who called NHS Direct complained of stomach trouble, compared with the normal figure of four per cent. The number of people calling the health helpline with similar symptoms has been rising since Christmas.

Figures peaked last week when 1,491 people called to complain of severe stomach upsets, including 350 people calling on behalf of toddlers and babies.

Experts said the figures include people suffering from norovirus the winter vomiting bug and rotavirus, a condition which affects children and can last up to eight days. They also include people who have caught sapovirus which causes mild gastroenteritis as well as E.coli and salmonella poisoning.

Camden GP Stephen Amiel said the number of patients he has seen with stomach problems is "25 to 30 per cent up on last year".

He added: "There are always a number of different vomiting and diarrhoea illnesses. Many of them are labelled as norovirus because of the time of year, but you can't be sure in every case. To an extent that doesn't matter because the treatment is the same.

"Although the numbers are up, my GP surgery hasn't been overwhelmed with people suffering from this problem, which shows NHS Direct is doing its job. They try to help people to help themselves without going to a doctor. There is not too much a doctor can do. You have to wait for it to go by itself."

A spokeswoman for the Health Protection Agency said: "As there is no specific treatment for these illnesses, the best thing for people with diarrhoea and vomiting to do is to rest at home and drink plenty of fluids."