SARS: Causes, Manifestations, and Steps for Avoidance
In late 2002, the world faced a global health crisis with the emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). This viral respiratory disease was caused by the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans [5].
**History**
The first cases of SARS were identified in November 2002, leading to a global outbreak that lasted until 2004. Chinese scientists traced the virus through epidemiological investigations in the 2010s [5].
**Symptoms**
SARS symptoms typically included fever, cough, and respiratory distress. It often led to pneumonia, manifested by symptoms like high fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, and difficulty breathing [2].
**Diagnosis**
Diagnosis of SARS required a fever of at least 100.4°F (38°C), one or more symptoms of lower respiratory tract illness, radiographic evidence of pneumonia, and no alternative diagnosis to explain the illness [2]. Imaging tests such as chest X-rays or CT scans may reveal pneumonia, while laboratory tests on samples of mucus, urine, or feces could identify the virus causing the disease [2].
**Treatment**
There was no specific antiviral medicine approved for SARS. Treatment focused on relieving symptoms and supporting respiratory function. This may have included medications to reduce fever, cough, and pain; antivirals might sometimes be used. Supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation might be required for severe cases involving lung swelling and breathing difficulties [2].
**Prevention**
Preventive measures included avoiding exposure to infected persons, practicing good hygiene, and following public health guidelines during outbreaks. Since SARS is transmitted through respiratory droplets, infection control measures such as mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and quarantine of cases were important to control spread [5]. Vaccines specifically for SARS have not been developed, but research continues related to coronavirus prevention strategies [5][2].
To summarise, SARS was a zoonotic disease with its first known cases emerging in November 2002, causing a global outbreak between 2002 and 2004. The symptoms typically included fever, cough, pneumonia, respiratory distress, muscle pain, headache, and other related symptoms. Diagnosis was based on signs and symptoms plus recent travel history or exposure to infected individuals, with imaging tests and laboratory tests helping to confirm the illness. Treatment focused on relieving symptoms and supporting respiratory function, while prevention measures included avoiding contact with infected persons, practicing good hygiene, and following public health guidelines. No specific antiviral medicine was approved for SARS, and vaccines specifically for SARS have not been developed.
Since 2004, there have been no recorded cases of SARS anywhere in the world. Between November 2002 to July 2003, there were 8039 cases worldwide and 774 deaths [5]. SARS-CoV might survive on a dry surface for extended periods, possibly for several months [5]. It is important to note that this information mainly draws from the data about the original SARS-CoV virus and disease, not the genetically distinct SARS-CoV-2 responsible for COVID-19 [5][2].
References: [1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). SARS. Retrieved July 6, 2021, from
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