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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)? " пїЅ Severe acute respiratory syndrome (also called SARS) is an infection caused by a virus. It causes fever, cough, and other symptoms. SARS can also cause serious lung problems and even death. There were outbreaks of SARS in 2003 and 2004, mostly in China and other countries in Asia. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the symptoms of SARS? " пїЅ The symptoms are different depending on how long it has been since a person was exposed to the virus. пїЅ пїЅ

At first, the symptoms of SARS include: пїЅ пїЅ

  • A fever higher than 100.5 пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ (38 пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ), often with chills, shaking, or both
  • Feeling sick, like you have the flu
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches

The first SARS symptoms usually last 3 to 7 days. After that, symptoms include: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Dry cough
  • Shortness of breath " пїЅ People with SARS often feel like they cannot take a deep breath or get enough air. Some people feel like their chest is tight or they have to work harder than usual to breathe.
  • Chest pain when coughing or breathing
  • Diarrhea
  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose

For the first 3 to 7 days of SARS, most people do not have a cough, breathing problems, runny nose, or sore throat even if they have a fever and feel sick. пїЅ пїЅ

Is there a test for SARS? " пїЅ Yes. Doctors can test for the virus that causes SARS. Tests include: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Lab tests on a sample of mucus from your nose
  • Lab tests on a sample of your bowel movement
  • Blood tests

Your doctor can also do a chest X-ray to look for signs of SARS. If the chest X-ray does not show anything and your doctor still thinks you might have SARS, he or she might do an imaging test called a CT scan. A CT scan creates a sharper image of the inside of your body than an X-ray. пїЅ пїЅ

Is SARS dangerous? " пїЅ It can be. Most people who get SARS need to go to the hospital. Some people even die from it. Thats because SARS can cause serious lung damage. пїЅ пїЅ

Should I see a doctor or nurse? " пїЅ See your doctor or nurse right away if there is an outbreak of SARS and: пїЅ пїЅ

  • You have trouble breathing.
  • You have a cough with a fever of 100.5 пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ (38 пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ) or higher, chest pain, or both.
  • You think you were near someone with SARS, for example, on an airplane or in a country affected by an outbreak.

How is SARS treated? " пїЅ Most people with SARS are treated in the hospital, sometimes in the intensive care unit (ICU). Treatments include: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Medicines and other treatments to reduce pain, breathing problems, diarrhea, and other symptoms
  • Extra oxygen to help you breathe more easily
  • Using a ventilator (breathing machine), if you have trouble breathing

So far, doctors do not have a good medicine to fight the virus that causes SARS. There are medicines called "antiviral " пїЅ medicines that help fight other viruses, such as the virus that causes the flu. But those antiviral medicines do not work well on SARS. Antibiotics DO NOT WORK on SARS. пїЅ пїЅ

Can SARS be prevented? " пїЅ You can reduce your chances of getting SARS by: пїЅ пїЅ

  • NOT going to areas where there is an outbreak of SARS
  • NOT eating certain foods (such as meat from unusual animals) if you travel or live in Asia
  • Wearing a mask, hospital gown, and gloves and washing your hands if you are around someone with SARS

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 17201 Version 2.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ

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пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ