SARS Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome sars-cov-2
Symptoms
fever (38°C), which is often high, and sometimes associated with chills and rigour.
fever accompanied by other symptoms including headache, malaise, and muscle pain.
At the onset of illness, some cases have mild respiratory symptoms Typically, rash and neurologic or gastrointestinal findings are absent, although a few patients have reported diarrhoea during the early febrile stage.
After 3-7 days, a lower respiratory phase begins with the onset of a dry, non-productive cough or dyspnoea (shortness of breath) that may be accompanied by, or progress to, hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels).
In 10-20% of cases, the respiratory illness is severe enough to require intubation and mechanical ventilation.
Chest radiographs may be normal throughout the course of illness, though not for all patients. The white blood cell count is often decreased early in the disease, and many people have low platelet counts at the peak of the disease.
Incubation period
The incubation period of SARS is usually 2-7 days but maybe as long as 10 days
Treatments
There is no cure or vaccine for SARS and treatment should be supportive and based on the patient’s symptoms.
Control measures used to prevent outbreaks
- Prompt detection of cases through good surveillance networks and including an early warning system;
- Isolation of suspected of probable cases;
- Tracing to identify both the source of the infection and contacts of those who are sick and
- Exit screening for outgoing passengers from areas with recent local transmission by asking questions and temperature measurements; and
- Disinfection of aircraft and cruise vessels having SARS cases on board using WHO guidelines.
- Personal preventive measures to prevent the spread of the virus include frequent hand washing using soap or alcohol-based disinfectants. For those with a high risk of contracting the disease, such as health care workers.
- Use of personal protective equipment, including a mask, goggles and an apron is mandatory.
- Whenever possible, household contacts should also wear a mask.
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