Unit9ReadingandIntegratingBackground:THEDISEASEWhatisSARS
Severeacuterespiratorysyndrome(SARS)isaviralrespiratoryillnessthatwasrecognizedasaglobalthreatinMarch2003,afterfirstappearinginSouthernChinainNovember2002
WhatarethesymptomsandsignsofSARS
Theillnessusuallybeginswithahighfever(measuredtemperaturegreaterthan100
4°F[>38
Thefeverissometimesassociatedwithchillsorothersymptoms,includingheadache,generalfeelingofdiscomfort,andbodyaches
Somepeoplealsoexperiencemildrespiratorysymptomsattheoutset
Diarrheaisseeninapproximately10percentto20percentofpatients
After2to7days,SARSpatientsmaydevelopadry,nonproductivecoughthatmightbeaccompaniedbyorprogresstoaconditioninwhichtheoxygenlevelsinthebloodarelow(hypoxia)
In10percentto20percentofcases,patientsrequiremechanicalventilation
Mostpatientsdeve