Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Introduction

Severe acute respiratory syndrome is a viral respiratory illness in human beings that is caused by the coronavirus known as SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The disease is accountable for the first ever pandemic of twenty first century. The disease was recognized as being highly contagious with significant potential or mortality and morbidity.

Discussion

The Break Out

As said above Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome was the first and the most noteworthy pandemic disease of the twenty first century. It is reported to have emerged in Asia, in February 2003. The illness spread out and eventually became one of the most deadly and treacherous pandemic ever noted. Its swift outbreak led to the Spreading of this virus to more than 37 countries in 2003. Within months after its appearance in Hong Kong, China, it had affected above eight thousand patients and sources 774 deaths in twenty six countries of South America, North America, Asia and Europe. However since 2004 not many cases have been reported around the globe, but the threat always remains (Koh, Plant and Lee, pp.244, 2003).

SARS presented a deplorable example that how rapidly world travel can spread a disease. It demonstrated noticeably the potential of globalization and air travel for the diffusion and propagation of a budding contagious infection and also focused on the need for a synchronized universal riposte to control such pandemic threats.

Symptoms and Signs of SARS

In most cases it is noticed that SARS demonstrates flu-like symptoms such as very high fever accompanied by chills, body aches, headaches, runny nose and sore throat. Fever might reach way above 38 degree Celsius. However, with the progress of illness other symptoms might appear for instance dry cough and severe diarrhea. The most significant symptoms is however the development of respiratory symptoms accompanied by shortness of breath. The symptoms of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome are often accompanied by hypoxia, a condition that demonstrates that the oxygen level in the blood is lower than normal. Some affected people undergo respiratory failure and are often put on ventilators.

The SARS is often termed as severe kind of Pneumonia. Nearly all patients of SARS have radiographic proof of pneumonia by the 6th day of infection and in the majority of cases lymphopenia (Peiris, Anderson and Osterhaus, pp.254, 2008).

The Cause

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is said to have been caused by SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus) virus. The Virus lies under the genus of coronavirus. The coronavirus genus includes pathogens that have the potential of affecting animal and causes cold in humans. However, in 2002 the SARS-CoV virus was identified as different kind of coronavirus. However this did not brought much surprise to the medical professionals due to the fact that there are uncountable types of coronaviruses and they are well known for their great potentials of mutations. Even though medical professionals are not sure regarding the origination of SARS-CoV virus but, it has been proposed that the SARS virus came from wild bats and then extended to other animals such as ...