MOHD. KHAIRI BIN Hj. NASIR

2002174487

Overview

     Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), first appeared in china in November 2002. The disease has spread worldwide, infecting thousand of people and resulting in more than 800 deaths.

     Because of the high amount of uncertainty about SARS, the World Health Organization (WHO), proved so successful that by July 2003 SARS had been effectively contained worldwide, SARS related travel restriction has been lifted.

Signs and symptoms     

     SARS often resembles pneumonia or influenza, that include;

• Fever- measured temperature of 100.4 F (38.0 C)
• Headache
• General feeling of discomfort (malaise)
• Body aches
• Dry, nonproductive cough

    Notably absent are signs and symptoms that usually occurred with colds such as sneezing and a runny nose.

     In some cases, SARS progresses to severe pneumonia, leading to an insufficient amount of oxygen in your blood (hypoxemia).

Causes

      Scientists began searching for the cause findings suggested a type of coronavirus, the virus from tissue sample were able of the disease in monkeys.

How SARS spreads

• Droplets. The infected particles are large and travel only 3 feet.
• Airborne particles. Are much smaller than droplets, travel farther and linger longer in the air.

Treatment

     People with SARS were treated with antibiotic. Doctors switched to antiviral medication such as ribavirin and aseltamivir combine with steroids. Another combine is with lopinavir/ritonavir.

How to protecting with SARS

• Wash your hand with soup and hot wateror use alcohol
• Instead touching your face with your hand
• Use soup or hot water to wash silverware, towel, bedding and clothing
• Call doctor immediately if you develop a fever.

Protecting others

• Wash your hands carefully and frequently
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• Don’t share your silverware, towels with anyone.
• Avoid going to school, work or other public places for 10 days after your symptoms disappear.

Complication

     The causes of most SARS deaths is severe lung damage, the harm not come from the pathogen itself but from the body’s response to the infection. It’s too soon to know if people who recover from SARS suffer permanent lung damage.

When to seek medical advice

     If you’ve had close contact with someone who has SARS or who may be at risk of having SARS, the CDC suggests that you monitor your health for at least 10 days.

BACK