SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Pamela Egan Practical Practitioner

 

By: Pamela Egan, FNP-C CDE

 


 

SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

 

 

World Health experts are trying to identify the cause of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS; a new form of deadly pneumonia that is spreading rapidly through Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.

What are the symptoms? Most patients start out with a fever greater than 100.4 degrees and often have accompanying chills, headache, malaise, body aches and mild respiratory symptoms. In the early stage, many patients have a decreased white blood cell count and may also have diarrhea. After three to seven days, the patient may develop a dry, non-productive cough that increases in severity. As the disease progresses, chest x-rays may show significant congestion in the lungs. Eventually not enough oxygen can get to the blood and, in 10 to 20 percent of cases, patients will require mechanical ventilation. The severity of illness among patients will require mechanical ventilation. The severity of illness among patients is highly variable, ranging from mild symptoms to death. Only patients who have traveled within 10 days of the onset of symptoms to an area with suspected SARS cases or have had contact with a person suspected of having SARS, are considered possible carriers of the disease.

You may ask how does the illness spread? SARS appears to spread through close contact, such as between family members. Experts believe it is transmitted through coughing, sneezing and other contact with nasal fluids. Once someone has been exposed to the illness, it takes three to seven days for symptoms to develop.

So what causes it? Researchers are not yet certain what pathogen is behind the illness. CDC scientist recently said the disease may be caused by a new form of the coronavirus, one of a few viruses that can cause the common cold. Other researchers have found signs of another germ family, the paramyxovirus, which causes measles, mumps and other diseases. SARS may be caused by one of those two viruses or it’s possible they are working together.As far as treatment, patient suspected of having the illness are being quarantined in hospitals. Until health officials learn its cause, there is no definite course of treatment. Some clinicians have reported that patients respond well to treatment with antiviral medications and steroids. The fatality rate among persons with SARS is approximately 3 percent, according to the world Health Organization.

So the big question is it safe to travel? The CDC says travelers should consider postponing trips to countries at risk, including Hong Kong and China. In addition, the U.S. State Department has warned citizens not to travel to Vietnam because the country lacks medical facilities to deal with the outbreak there. The CDC has begun handing out notices to travelers returning from Hong Kong, China and Vietnam warning them to be on the lookout for symptoms of SARS. Americans living abroad are urged to avoid activities, such as visits to hospitals that might bring them into contact with people who have SARS. Airline crew members are asked to be on the lookout for sick passengers and quickly isolate them from other passengers. In the United States, people who think they may have SARS and have recently traveled to Asia or have been in contact with someone who has, should contact their healthcare provider. Health workers who suspect cases of SARS are asked to report them to their state health departments. The CDC requests that reports of suspected cases from state health departments, international airlines, cruise ships or cargo carriers be directed to the SARS Investigative Team at the CDC Emergency Operations Center.

Suspected cases of SARS have been reported in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Canada, United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain and Ireland. So far China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and Canada are the only countries with reported deaths from the illness.

This article was originally published April 7, 2003 in The St. Tammany News.

 

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