Severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS is a respiratory disease in humans which is caused by the SARS coronavirus.
The virus appears to have originated in Guangdong Province in November 2002, and despite taking some action to control the epidemic, Chinese government officials did not inform the World Health Organization of the outbreak until February 2003, restricting coverage of the epidemic in order to preserve public confidence. This lack of openness caused the PRC to take the blame for delaying the international effort against the epidemic.
Initial symptoms are flu-like and may include: fever, myalgia, lethargy, gastrointestinal symptoms, anal warts, cough, sore throat and other non-specific symptoms. The only symptom that is common to all patients appears to be a fever above 38 °C (100.4 °F). Shortness of breath may occur later. Symptoms usually appear 210 days following exposure, but up to 13 days has been reported. In most cases symptoms appear within 23 days. About 1020% of cases require mechanical ventilation.
The virus appears to have originated in Guangdong Province in November 2002, and despite taking some action to control the epidemic, Chinese government officials did not inform the World Health Organization of the outbreak until February 2003, restricting coverage of the epidemic in order to preserve public confidence. This lack of openness caused the PRC to take the blame for delaying the international effort against the epidemic.
Initial symptoms are flu-like and may include: fever, myalgia, lethargy, gastrointestinal symptoms, anal warts, cough, sore throat and other non-specific symptoms. The only symptom that is common to all patients appears to be a fever above 38 °C (100.4 °F). Shortness of breath may occur later. Symptoms usually appear 210 days following exposure, but up to 13 days has been reported. In most cases symptoms appear within 23 days. About 1020% of cases require mechanical ventilation.
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Last Updated: Sep 2009
Last Updated: Sep 2009
What is SARS?
Antibiotics are ineffective. Treatment of SARS so far has been largely supportive with antipyretics, supplemental oxygen and ventilatory support as needed. Suspected cases of SARS must be isolated, preferably in negative pressure rooms, with full barrier nursing precautions taken for any necessary contact with these patients. There was initially anecdotal support for steroids and the antiviral drug ribavirin, but no published evidence has supported this therapy. Many clinicians now suspect that ribavirin is detrimental.
Researchers are currently testing all known antiviral treatments for other diseases including AIDS, hepatitis, influenza and others on the SARS-causing coronavirus. There is some evidence that some of the more serious damage in SARS is due to the body's own immune system overreacting to the virus. There may be some benefit from using steroids and other immune modulating agents in the treatment of the more acute SARS patients. Research is continuing in this area.
Researchers are currently testing all known antiviral treatments for other diseases including AIDS, hepatitis, influenza and others on the SARS-causing coronavirus. There is some evidence that some of the more serious damage in SARS is due to the body's own immune system overreacting to the virus. There may be some benefit from using steroids and other immune modulating agents in the treatment of the more acute SARS patients. Research is continuing in this area.
