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Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a potentially lethal respiratory disorder. In November 2002, SARS first appeared in China. SARS spread quickly over the world, carried by unwitting travelers.
SARS demonstrated how quickly an infection may spread in a mobile and linked world. A united multinational effort, on the other hand, enabled health specialists to quickly control the disease's spread. Since 2004, there has been no known transmission of SARS anywhere in the world.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SARS?
SARS typically begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle pains, headache, and, on rare occasions, diarrhea. After roughly a week, the following signs and symptoms appear:
A fever of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher
Coughing that is dry
Breathing difficulty
When should you see a doctor?
SARS is a deadly illness that can be fatal. Consult your doctor straight away if you have signs or symptoms of a respiratory illness, or if you have flu-like symptoms with fever after going overseas.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF SARS?
SARS is caused by a coronavirus strain, the same virus family that causes the common cold. These viruses were never extremely hazardous to humans in the past.
Coronaviruses, on the other hand, may cause serious disease in animals, which is why scientists assumed that the SARS virus had spread from animals to humans. The virus appears to have evolved from one or more animal viruses into a novel strain.
HOW DOES SARS SPREAD?
Most respiratory infections, including SARS, are conveyed by droplets that enter the air when a person with the disease coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Most specialists believe that SARS is spread mostly through intimate human contact, such as caring for someone who has SARS. The virus can also spread through contaminated objects including doorknobs, phones, and elevator buttons.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS AND COMPLICATIONS OF SARS?
People who have had direct, close contact with an infected person, such as family members and health care workers, are at the greatest risk of contracting SARS.
Many SARS patients develop pneumonia, and breathing issues might become serious enough that a mechanical respirator is required. In some situations, SARS is lethal, usually owing to respiratory collapse. Heart and liver failure are two further potential risks.
People over the age of 60 are at the greatest risk of major consequences, particularly those with underlying illnesses such as diabetes or hepatitis.
HOW IS SARS DIAGNOSED?
A doctor would ask the person about their symptoms and perform a physical examination to diagnose SARS. They'd probably question if the person had lately spent time in an area where SARS was present or cared for someone who had SARS.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a person must have all of the following symptoms to be diagnosed with SARS:
- A fever of at least 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius)
- One or more lower respiratory tract sickness symptoms, such as cough, trouble breathing, or shortness of breath
- Radiographic evidence of pneumonia
- There is no alternative diagnosis to explain the disease.
SARS was uncommon when it occurred, and the symptoms were similar to those of the flu and pneumonia.
A person could contract SARS only if there was a current outbreak and they had visited an area where the virus was spreading. SARS had not been reported since 2004 at the time of writing.
Tests
SARS-CoV can be identified via laboratory tests.
Among them are:
- blood tests
- stool tests
- nasal secretion tests
- Imaging tests for the detection of pneumonia
- During the early stages of infection, these tests may not be reliable.
HOW IS SARS TREATED?
SARS is a sickness that must be reported and treated as a medical emergency.
People infected with SARS in the United States did not have to enter quarantine during the 2003 outbreak. To prevent the spread of the virus, the WHO recommended isolating patients and utilizing barrier measures such as filter masks and goggles.
Antibiotics and other medications did not appear to be effective against SARS. Instead, healthcare providers provided supportive treatment, such as the administration of drugs to alleviate symptoms such as fever and cough. Some patients in the hospital required a ventilator to help them breathe.
HOW CAN SARS BE PREVENTED?
SARS vaccines are being developed by researchers, but none have been tested in humans. If SARS infections recur, use these precautions if you are caring for someone who may be infected:
- Hand washing: Hands should be washed often with soap and hot water, or an alcohol-based hand massage containing at least 60% alcohol should be used.
- Put on disposable gloves: Wear disposable gloves if you come into contact with the person's bodily fluids or feces. After using the gloves, throw them away and properly wash your hands.
- Put on a surgical mask: Cover your lips and nose with a surgical mask if you're in the same room as someone with SARS. Wearing glasses may also provide some protection.
- Personal goods should be washed: Wash the utensils, towels, blankets, and clothing of someone who has SARS with soap and hot water.
- Surface disinfection: Clean any surfaces that have been contaminated with perspiration, saliva, mucus, vomit, stool, or urine with a home disinfectant. Wear disposable gloves while cleaning and dispose of them afterward.
Continue to take all precautions for at least 10 days after the person's signs and symptoms have subsided. If a kid develops a fever or respiratory symptoms within 10 days of being exposed to someone with SARS, he or she should be kept home from school.