What is SARS?

SARS
Also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS is a viral respiratory illness that first appeared in southern China in November 2002. The virus that causes this illness is spread through close contact with an infected person, usually through the air or by touching a contaminated surface. The only proven cure for this condition is time, so treatment goals are focused on providing relief of symptoms and complications as the body fights the virus.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a new viral respiratory illness first identified in humans in early 2003, after first appearing in southern China in November 2002.

What Causes It?
SARS is caused by an infection with the SARS virus. The SARS virus is a previously unrecognized coronavirus called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV).

(Click What Causes SARS? for more information.)

Transmission of SARS
The virus is spread through close contact with an infected person. It can be passed either through the air or by touching a contaminated surface.

(Click How Is SARS Spread? for more information.)

Incubation Period
The time between exposure to the virus and the onset of SARS symptoms is called the incubation period. The incubation period for SARS is typically two to seven days, although in some cases, it may be as long as 10 days. In a very small proportion of cases, incubation periods of up to 14 days have been reported
What Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms usually begin with a high fever, measured by a temperature greater than 100.4°F (38.0°C). Other early symptoms may include:

   Headache
    An overall feeling of discomfort
    Body aches
    Chills
    Sore throat
    Runny nose
    Diarrhea    

After two to seven days, other symptoms may occur, including

    Dry cough
    Shortness of breath
    Low oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxia)
    Pneumonia    

In 10 percent to 20 percent of cases, patients require breathing support with mechanical ventilation.

(Click SARS Symptoms for more information.)

Making a Diagnosis
In order to make a diagnosis, your doctor will ask a number of questions, perform a physical exam, and recommend certain tests. As part of diagnosing this condition, the doctor will also rule out other causes of possible symptoms.

If your healthcare provider determines that you are at high risk, he or she will recommend certain lab tests, including

    PCR Test
    Serologic testing
    Viral Cultur


(Click Diagnosing SARS for more information.)

Treatment Options for SARS
Once a person has become infected, there is only one cure -- time. There is currently no treatment that can kill the virus. Therefore, treatment is focused on providing relief of symptoms and complications as the body fights the virus.

Most SARS cases require hospitalization for intensive supportive care. This supportive care can include

    Intravenous (IV) fluids
    Medications, including antibiotics, steroids, and/or antivirals
    Breathing support from a ventilator
    Prevention of secondary infections
    Good nursing care.
    What Is the Prognosis?
    SARS is a potentially life-threatening infection, with an average death rate of 11 percent for the most severely affected areas. SARS is also associated with a number of serious complications, such as pneumonia. However, one third of people infected with the SARS virus have only mild symptoms.
    
    Doctors can seldom predict why one person will develop serious symptoms and another will not. However, they do know that certain factors increase a person's chance of developing serious symptoms. People at risk for more serious SARS symptoms include:
    
    People over the age of 65
    People with other medical problems    

(Click SARS Prognosis for more information.)

History of SARS
SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003, after first appearing in southern China in November 2002. Over the next few months, SARS spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before the SARS global outbreak of 2003 was contained.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 8,098 people worldwide became sick with SARS during the 2003 outbreak. Of these, 774 died. Of the 774 deaths attributed to SARS, more than 50 percent occurred in people 65 years of age or older. Susceptibility decreased significantly with age, with children the least likely to acquire the disease.

In the United States, only eight people had laboratory evidence of a SARS virus infection, with no deaths. All of these people had traveled to other parts of the world with SARS. SARS did not spread more widely in the community in the United States.

The prompt recognition that SARS is caused by a new type of coronavirus is a tribute to the dedication of and collaboration by the world's medical researchers and public health experts. Much more research is needed, however, to develop ways to identify, treat, and prevent this deadly illness.