Atypical Pneumonia: SARS
Author: mzPOTTER
Also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in mid March 2003, the World Health Organization received reports of more than 150 cases of acute respiratory illness associated with pneumonia. Most cases were from Southeast Asian regions: China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore. The appearance of many cases in a short space of time, the absence of an identifiable causative agent, the rapid spread of disease and death in some affected, triggered the alarm.
The subsequent increase of cases in these regions, and identification of possible cases in distant regions such as Canada, Germany or England, raised the level of alarm over the possibility that an infectious agent was causing an epidemic that was spreading rapidly due to easy access to air travel. He was baptized in the media as SARS. In late March 2003 had registered 1550 cases with 54 deaths.
Fortunately, so far, no cases have been reported in Spain. Nor does it seem that the outbreak is reaching alarming proportions, and the presence of SARS in the media decreases over time.
- The causative agent of SARS has been identified as a virus from the coronavirus group. It has succeeded in developing a serological test to make the diagnosis specifically, based on the chain reaction (PCR). There are other immunological tests are still under investigation, but they seem promising. The virus can be isolated from patient samples.
- The infection is spread from person to person and is not as contagious as initially feared. Most infections have occurred among close contacts or health workers who care for these patients.
- The clinical presentation is nonspecific and indistinguishable from other pneumonias.
- The test reaction polymerase chain helps a lot to the diagnosis and to distinguish this disease from other pneumonias. It provides an early diagnosis, so that the use of empirical antibiotics is required at the beginning of the disease.
- Most patients improve and heal in the range of 6-7 days, although there have been relapses. In 10% of cases, the disease progresses and appears ill respiratory failure may require mechanical ventilation. The mortality rate of around 3%.
- There is no specific treatment for this disease, so treatment is supportive of the water balance and gas exchange.
- The contacts of these patients must remain in home isolation for 10 days. Should be monitored for fever.
- WHO has raised all kinds of warnings on travel to areas affected by SARS. It is obvious that the appearance of a severe respiratory symptoms with fever within 10 days of having visited one of the risk areas should be alerted about this possible diagnosis.
- There is no danger for the goods from those countries.