Definition of SARS
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a serious form of pneumonia. It is caused by a virus that was first identified in 2003. Infection with the SARS virus causes acute respiratory distress (severe breathing difficulty) and sometimes death. SARS first appeared in China in November 2002. Within a few months, SARS spread worldwide, carried by unsuspecting travelers.
Causes of SARS
SARS is caused by a member of the coronavirus family of viruses (the same family that can cause the common cold). It is believed the 2003 epidemic started when the virus spread from small mammals in China. When someone with SARS coughs or sneezes, infected droplets spray into the air. You can catch the SARS virus if you breathe in or touch these particles. The SARS virus may live on hands, tissues, and other surfaces for up to 6 hours in these droplets and up to 3 hours after the droplets have dried.
While the spread of droplets through close contact caused most of the early SARS cases, SARS might also spread by hands and other objects the droplets has touched. Airborne transmission is a real possibility in some cases. Live virus has even been found in the stool of people with SARS, where it has been shown to live for up to 4 days. The virus may be able to live for months or years when the temperature is below freezing. With other coronaviruses, becoming infected and then getting sick again (re-infection) is common. This may also be the case with SARS. Symptoms usually occur about 2 to 10 days after coming in contact with the virus. In some cases, SARS started sooner or later after first contact. People with active symptoms of illness are contagious. But it is not known for how long a person may be contagious before or after symptoms appear.
Symptoms of SARS
The main symptoms are:
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever greater than 100.4°F (38.0°C)
- Other breathing symptoms
The most common symptoms are:
- Chills and shaking
- Cough, usually starts 2 to 3 days after other symptoms
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
Less common symptoms include:
- Cough that produces phlegm (sputum)
- Diarrhoea
- 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.
Treatment of SARS
People who are thought to have SARS should be checked right away by a provider. If they are suspected of having SARS, they should be kept isolated in the hospital.
Treatment may include:
- Antibiotics to treat bacteria that cause pneumonia
- Antiviral medicines (although how well they work for SARS is unknown)
- High doses of steroids to reduce swelling in the lungs (it is not known how well they work)
- Oxygen, breathing support (mechanical ventilation), or chest therapy
In some serious cases, the liquid part of blood from people who have already recovered from SARS has been given as a treatment.
There is no strong evidence that these treatments work well. There is evidence that the antiviral medicine, ribavirin, does not work.
Possible complications of SARS
Complications may include:
- Respiratory failure
- Liver failure
- Heart failure
Prevention of SARS
Reducing your contact with people who have SARS lowers your risk for the disease. Avoid travel to places where there is an uncontrolled SARS outbreak. When possible, avoid direct contact with people who have SARS until at least 10 days after their fever and other symptoms are gone.
- Hand hygiene is the most important part of SARS prevention. Wash your hands or clean them with an alcohol-based instant hand sanitizer.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Droplets that are released when a person sneezes or coughs are infectious.
- DO NOT share food, drink, or utensils.
- Clean commonly touched surfaces with an EPA-approved disinfectant.
Masks and goggles may be useful for preventing the spread of the disease. You may use gloves when handling items that may have touched infected droplets.
