Symptoms and treatment of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Description

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a contagious disease caused by a coronavirus. It is a disease that affects the lungs and airways, also called respiratory disease. The coronavirus that causes SARS is called SARS-CoV-1. He appeared for the first time in November 2002. Within a few months, SARS-CoV-1 virus spread in all over the world. Mainly spread from person to person.

A global effort from health experts quickly stopped the spread of the disease. No cases of SARS have been reported anywhere in the world since 2004.

Symptoms

The SARS usually begins with flu-like symptoms, including:

• Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or more.
• Chills.
• Muscle aches.
• The pain of a headache.
• Sometimes diarrhea.

After about a week, the symptoms can include a dry cough, and difficulty breathing.

When to see a doctor

SARS is a serious disease that can lead to death. If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, please call a member of your healthcare team right away. Also call your health care professional if you have symptoms similar to the flu with fever after traveling abroad.

Causes

SARS is caused by the SARS-CoV-1, a strain of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that also cause the commin cold. Different strains of coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, causes COVID-19.

The coronavirus can cause severe disease in animals. That is why the scientists suspect that the SARS-CoV-1 virus could have started in animals and crossed over to humans. Now it seems likely that one or more of the viruses of animals evolved from the new strain.

How it spreads, the SARS virus

The majority of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses, including SARS, spread when infected people cough, sneeze or talk. Small liquid particles from the nose or mouth enter the air. Healthy people nearby breathe in these particles. Most of the experts believe that the virus that causes SARS is spread primarily through close personal contact. For example, a healthy person could become infected, taking care of someone who has SARS.

The virus can also be spread on objects such as doorknobs, telephones and elevator buttons. Touching an object that has the virus on it and then rub the nose, eyes, or mouth can cause an infection.

Risk factors

In general, people with higher risk of SARS are those who have had direct, close contact with an infected person. This includes health care workers and family members who live with someone who has SARS.

Complications

Many people with SARS getting pneumonia. And, sometimes, a machine called a ventilator is needed to help with breathing. SARS is a fatal and in some cases, often because the body may not get enough oxygen or can't remove enough carbon dioxide. This condition is called respiratory failure. SARS can also lead to heart and liver failure.

The risk of getting very sick from SARS rises with age, especially in people over the age of 60 years. The risk also increases if you have the other long-term health condition, such as diabetes or chronic hepatitis B.

Prevention

The researchers are working on vaccines to SARS. But none has been tested in human beings. If the infections caused by the SARS virus to happen again, follow some safety measures. The following tips are key if you are caring for someone who may have SARS:

• Wash your hands. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water. Or use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol.
• Wear disposable gloves. To put them on if it is possible to have contact with an infected person's bodily fluids or excrement. Throw the gloves away right after to use them. Then, thoroughly wash your hands.
• Wear a surgical mask. Use it to cover your mouth and nose when you're in the same room as a person with SARS. Or you could use a device called an N95 respirator. It can also help to block the spread of the SARS virus. The use of glasses can offer some protection.
• Wash personal items. Use soap and warm water to wash the utensils, towels, bedding and clothing of someone with SARS.
• Sanitize surfaces. Use a household disinfectant. Clean surfaces that might have been in contact with the sweat, saliva, mucus, vomit, feces or urine. Wear disposable gloves while you clean. Throw the gloves away when you're ready. Then wash your hands.

Follow these steps for at least 10 days after the person has passed the fever and any breathing that the symptoms have improved. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that a person infected stay home from work or school during this time. Call your health care team right away if you develop fever or other symptoms start within 10 days of close contact with someone who has SARS.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Diagnosis

When SARS appeared for the first time, there are no specific tests marked by it. Now several of the tests that can help detect the virus. These include blood tests, stool, the nose and of the throat. But it is not known the spread of the virus that causes SARS has occurred anywhere in the world since 2004.

Treatment

Scientists still have not found an effective treatment for SARS. And antiviral drugs that clean of infections caused by viruses, not shown much benefit. Antibiotics fight bacteria, not viruses.

Hospital care for SARS is to alleviate the symptoms, while the SARS virus runs its course. Care may include receiving fluids through a vein and an extra oxygen if needed.