What is SARS?
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory infection that has recently been reported in a number of regions.

It is a new type of atypical pneumonia* that infects the lungs, caused by a new strain of coronavirus.

Atypical pneumonia refers to an infection of the lung that is caused by certain organisms such as Mycoplasma, Legionella and Chlamydia. SARS is a type of atypical pneumonia.

As more information has become available, WHO has revised the SARS case definitions as follows:

What are the symptoms of SARS?
In general, SARS begins with a high fever (temperature greater than 100.4°F [>38.0°C]). Other symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and body aches.

Some people also have mild respiratory symptoms at the outset. About 10 percent to 20 percent of patients have diarrhea. After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry cough. Most patients develop pneumonia.

what are Symptoms?
The hallmark symptoms are:
* Cough
* Difficulty breathing
* Fever greater than 100.4 degrees F (38.0 degrees C)
* Other breathing symptoms

The most common symptoms are:
* Chills and shaking
* Cough -- usually starts 2-3 days after other symptoms
*Fever
*Headache
* Muscle aches

Less common symptoms include:
* Cough that produces phlegm (sputum)
* Diarrhea
* Dizziness
*Nausea and vomiting
* Runny nose
* Sore throat

In some people, the lung symptoms get worse during the second week of illness, even after the fever has stopped.
Signs and tests
Your health care provider may hear abnormal lung sounds while listening to your chest with a stethoscope. In most people with SARS, changes on a chest x-ray or chest CT show pneumonia, which is typical with SARS.

Tests used to diagnose SARS might include:
*Blood clotting tests
* Blood chemistry tests
* Chest x-ray or chest CT scan
* Complete blood count (CBC)

Tests used to quickly identify the virus that causes SARS include:
*Antibody tests for SARS
* Direct isolation of the SARS virus
* Rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS virus
All current tests have some limitations. They may not be able to easily identify a SARS case during the first week of the illness, when it is most important.

How does SARS spread?
The main way that SARS seems to spread is by close person-to-person contact. The virus that causes SARS is thought to be transmitted most readily by respiratory droplets (droplet spread) produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Droplet spread can happen when droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled a short distance (generally up to 3 feet) through the air and deposited on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, or eyes of persons who are nearby.

Suspect Case
A person presenting after 1 February 2003 with history of high fever (>38C) and one or more respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing AND one or more of the following: o close contact* with a person who has been diagnosed with SARS o recent history of travel to areas reporting cases of SARS

The travel or close contact history are key criteria in suspecting the diagnosis and helps distinguish SARS from other causes of fever and cough such as the common cold or the flu.

Probable Case
A suspect case with chest x-ray findings of pneumonia or Respiratory Distress Syndrome or a person with an unexplained respiratory illness resulting in death, with an autopsy examination demonstrating the pathology of Respiratory Distress Syndrome without an identifiable cause.

Treatment
Largely supportive. At present, patients are being treated empirically with antibiotics and in some cases, anti-viral agents.


 

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