SAR generally refers to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which is a serious viral respiratory disease. SARS is caused by the SARS-CoV-1 virus, a type of coronavirus, and became widely known during the outbreak in 2002–2003. It spread mainly through respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes and by touching contaminated surfaces.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms are high fever (above 38°C), chills, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and sometimes diarrhea.
After a few days, affected people can develop a dry cough and might experience shortness of breath, which can progress to serious pneumonia.
In severe cases, people may need hospital care like mechanical ventilation to help them breathe.
The incubation period (the time from getting exposed to showing symptoms) is usually 2–7 days, but can be up to 10 days.
Diagnosis and Tests
Diagnosis includes checking for symptoms, travel or exposure history, and various tests like blood tests and chest X-rays.
Special lab tests help detect the presence of the virus, like PCR and antibody tests.
Prevention and Precautions
There is no specific cure or antiviral treatment for SARS; only supportive care is given to manage symptoms.
To prevent spread, similar precautions as for bacterial infections are important: wash hands often, avoid contact with sick people, cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and clean commonly touched surfaces frequently.
Current Status
Thanks to global health efforts, there have been no reported cases of SARS since 2004.
Another similar virus, SARS-CoV-2, causes COVID-19 and has resulted in a worldwide pandemic since 2019.
MBH/AB