Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
Description
A respiratory illness that first infected people in parts of Asia, North America, and Europe in late 2002 and early 2003. SARS is caused by a type of coronavirus, a family of viruses that often causes the common cold. This virus is known as SARS-CoV. The virus is thought to be transmitted most readily by respiratory droplets (droplet spread) produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. SARS can be fatal.
Symptoms
Fever, cough, difficulty breathing, shaking chills, muscle aches, headache.
Tests
A history and physical exam will be performed. SARS can be diagnosed by identifying the DNA of the virus from a nasal swab, by detecting antibodies to the virus in the blood, and/or through a viral culture. Other tests will be done to evaluate the severity of the disease.
- CBC
- Chem 12
- UA
- X-Ray
- CT Scan
Treatment
Patients suspected of having SARS should be treated aggressively, and options may include: supplemental oxygen, chest physiotherapy, mechanical ventilation, intravenous fluids, and hospitalization under isolation. Other treatments that may be administered but have no strong evidence they work include: antibiotics (for possible coexisting pneumonia), antiviral medications, steroids, and serum from people who have recovered from SARS.
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