SARS

Introduction SARS, a highly contagious disease that originated in China, has killed more than 200 people and infected nearly 3,900 others in 25 countries. The majority of SARS related deaths have occurred within the Pacific Rim, but more cases are cropping up in North America nearly 200 nonfatal cases of SARS have been reported in the United States, and 14 Canadians have died from the disease.

History The epidemic of SARS appears to have started in Guangdong Province, China in November The first reported case of SARS or iginated in Shunde, Foshan,Guangdong in November 2002,and the patient, a farmer, was treated in the First People's Hospital of Foshan (Mckay Dennis). The patient died soon after, and no definite diagnosis was made on his cause of death. Despite taking some action to control it, Chinese government officials did not inform the World Health Organization of the outbreak until February 2003.

Symptoms Initial symptoms are flu-like and may include fever, lethargy symptoms, cough, sore throat, and other nonspecific symptoms. The only symptom common to all patients appears to be a fever above 38 °C (100 °F). Shortness of breath may occur later. The patient has symptoms as with a cold in the first stage, but later on they resemble influenza.

Spread SARS originated in the Far East and has travelled across the globe by those infected by it. The virus can spread by close contact (meaning having cared for, having lived with, or having had direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of a person with SARS).SARS is spread through 'droplet transmission', that is when someone infected coughs or sneezes droplets into the air and someone else inhales them. It is also possible to transfer the infection through from objects that have become contaminated.

Prognosis During the pandemic, approximately 25% of people with SARS developed severe respiratory failure or ARDS. In the general population, people with SARS had approximately a 10% chance of dying. Deaths in children were rare. However, up to 50% of people with underlying medical conditions died; peopleover 50 years old also had a similar death rate. Unfortunately, many people who eventually recover from SARS have had pulmonary fibrosis, osteoporosis, and femoral necrosis and are disabled, according to reports from China.

Prevented There is no vaccine to date. Isolation and quarantine remain the most effective means to prevent the spread of SARS. In addition, handwashing, use of universal precautions, disinfection of surfaces for fomites, and use of a surgical mask are recommended. Avoid contact with bodily fluids. Annual influenza vaccinations and 5-year pneumococcal vaccinations may be beneficial; but vaccinations only reduce or weaken the severity of SARS infection.

Resourses y_syndrome_sars/page6.htmwww.medicinenet.com/severe_acute_respirator y_syndrome_sars/page6.htm s.html#.VltroGEHgEUswww.parenthood.com/article/the_facts_on_sar s.html#.VltroGEHgEUs