SARS. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

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.

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.

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.

Other Specific Tests:
DNA tests, Serology, Viral vulture, PT (Protime), PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time)