SARS

SARS (or severe acute respiratory syndrome) is an atypical pneumonia caused by a coronavirus.

SARS Agent

The SARS agent is a virus belonging to the coronavirus family (which causes common colds), SARS-CoV.

Transmission of SARS

The virus is believed to have been transmitted from livestock to human beings in the South of China, and there was an explosion in the number of cases in 2003 (5,239 cases in China and 336 deaths by 5 June 2003). It does not appear to spread rapidly.

Infection occurs through saliva or from nasal secretions.

Symptoms of SARS

Symptoms are fever spikes and respiratory problems, such as cough and respiratory distress. In some cases, these relatively non-specific symptoms are followed by acute respiratory distress, which requires assisted ventilation.

Laboratory tests show thrombocytopenia (a lack of platelets) together with a reduction in white blood cells (leukopenia).

The mortality rate is approximately 15% of people infected, to as high as 50% in people over 65 years old.

Treatment of SARS

Treatment is symptomatic, although antibiotics can be prescribed if the cause of the pneumonia is not apparent.