Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information): Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 29: Line 29:
[[SARS]] is caused by a member of the [[coronavirus]] family (the same family that can cause the [[common cold]]).
[[SARS]] is caused by a member of the [[coronavirus]] family (the same family that can cause the [[common cold]]).


When someone with [[SARS]] [[coughs]] or [[sneezes]], infected droplets spray into the air. You can catch [[SARS]] if you breathe in or touch these particles. The [[SARS]] [[virus]] may live on [[hands]], tissues, and other surfaces for up to 6 hours in these droplets and up to 3 hours after the droplets have dried.
When someone with [[SARS]] [[coughs]] or [[sneezes]], infected droplets spray into the air. You can catch [[SARS]] if you breathe in or touch these particles. The [[SARS virus]] may live on [[hands]], tissues, and other surfaces for up to 6 hours in these droplets and up to 3 hours after the droplets have dried.


While droplet transmission through close contact was responsible for most of the early cases of [[SARS]], evidence began to mount that [[SARS]] might also spread by [[hands]] and other objects the droplets had touched. Airborne transmission was a real possibility in some cases. Live [[virus]] had even been found in the [[stool]] of people with [[SARS]], where it has been shown to live for up to four days. And the [[virus]] may be able to live for months or years when the temperature is below freezing.
While droplet transmission through close contact was responsible for most of the early cases of [[SARS]], evidence began to mount that [[SARS]] might also spread by [[hands]] and other objects the droplets had touched. Airborne transmission was a real possibility in some cases. Live [[virus]] had even been found in the [[stool]] of people with [[SARS]], where it has been shown to live for up to four days. And the [[virus]] may be able to live for months or years when the temperature is below freezing.

Revision as of 16:17, 3 March 2010

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

WikiDoc Resources for Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Articles

Most recent articles on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Most cited articles on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Review articles on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Articles on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information) in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Images of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Photos of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Podcasts & MP3s on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Videos on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Bandolier on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

TRIP on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information) at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Clinical Trials on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information) at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

NICE Guidance on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

CDC on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Books

Books on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

News

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information) in the news

Be alerted to news on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

News trends on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Commentary

Blogs on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Definitions

Definitions of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Discussion groups on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Patient Handouts on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Directions to Hospitals Treating Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Risk calculators and risk factors for Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Causes & Risk Factors for Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Diagnostic studies for Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Treatment of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

International

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information) en Espanol

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information) en Francais

Business

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information) in the Marketplace

Patents on Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Severe acute respiratory syndrome (patient information)

Editor-in-Chief: Alexandra M. Palmer

Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

What is Severe acute respiratory syndrome?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a serious form of pneumonia, caused by a virus isolated in 2003. Infection with the SARS virus results in acute respiratory distress (severe breathing difficulty) and sometimes death. It is a dramatic example of how quickly world travel can spread a disease. It is also an example of how quickly a networked health system can respond to an emerging threat.

What are the symptoms of Severe acute respiratory syndrome?

The hallmark symptoms are fever greater than 100.4 degrees F (38.0 degrees C) and cough, difficulty breathing, or other respiratory symptoms. Symptoms in the order of how commonly they appeared have included:

Less common symptoms include (also in order):

What causes Severe acute respiratory syndrome?

SARS is caused by a member of the coronavirus family (the same family that can cause the common cold).

When someone with SARS coughs or sneezes, infected droplets spray into the air. You can catch SARS if you breathe in or touch these particles. The SARS virus may live on hands, tissues, and other surfaces for up to 6 hours in these droplets and up to 3 hours after the droplets have dried.

While droplet transmission through close contact was responsible for most of the early cases of SARS, evidence began to mount that SARS might also spread by hands and other objects the droplets had touched. Airborne transmission was a real possibility in some cases. Live virus had even been found in the stool of people with SARS, where it has been shown to live for up to four days. And the virus may be able to live for months or years when the temperature is below freezing.

With other coronaviruses, re-infection (becoming infected and falling ill again) is common. Preliminary reports suggest that this may also be the case with SARS.

Symptoms usually occur about 2 to 10 days after coming in contact with the virus, although there have been some cases where the illness started considerably sooner or later. Those with active symptoms of illness are clearly contagious, but it is not known how long a person may be contagious before or after symptoms.

Who is at risk for Severe acute respiratory syndrome?

How do I know I have Severe acute respiratory syndrome?

Your health care provider may hear abnormal lung sounds while listening to the chest with a stethoscope. In most persons with SARS, worsening chest x-ray or chest CT changes show the presence of pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome.

Tests used to diagnose SARS might include:

Much attention was given early in the outbreak to developing a quick, sensitive test for SARS. Specific tests include the PCR test for SARS virus, antibody tests for SARS, and direct SARS virus isolation. All current tests have some limitations.

When to seek urgent medical care

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Severe acute respiratory syndrome

Directions to Hospitals Treating Severe acute respiratory syndrome

Prevention of Severe acute respiratory syndrome

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)

Possible complications

Sources

Template:SIB Template:WH Template:WS