SARS symptoms usually begin with a high fever, measured by a temperature greater than 100.4°F (38.0°C). Other early SARS symptoms may include:
- Headache
- An overall feeling of discomfort
- Body aches
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Diarrhea.
After two to seven days, other symptoms of SARS may occur, including:
- Dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Low oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxia)
- Pneumonia.
In 10 percent to 20 percent of cases, patients require breathing support with mechanical ventilation.
In order to make a SARS diagnosis, your doctor will ask a number of questions, perform a physical exam, and recommend certain tests. As part of
diagnosing SARS, the doctor will also rule out other causes of possible SARS symptoms.
If you are determined to be at high risk for SARS, your healthcare provider will recommend certain lab tests, including:
- PCR Test
- Serologic testing
- Viral Culture.
Treatment Options for SARS
Once a person has become infected, there is only one SARS cure -- time. There is currently no treatment that can kill the SARS virus. Therefore, treatment is focused on providing relief of symptoms and complications as the body fights the SARS virus.
Most SARS cases require hospitalization for intensive supportive care. This supportive care can include:
- Intravenous (IV) fluids
- Medications, including antibiotics, steroids, and/or antivirals
- Breathing support from a ventilator
- Prevention of secondary infections
- Good nursing care.
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