Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Alternative Names

SARS

Symptoms

The hallmark symptoms are fever greater than 100.4 degrees F (38.0 degrees C) and cough, difficulty breathing, or other respiratory symptoms. Symptoms found in more than half of the first 138 patients included (in the order of how commonly they appeared):

• Fever
• Chills and shaking
• Muscle aches
• Cough
• Headache

Less common symptoms include (also in order):

• Dizziness
• Productive cough (sputum)
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider may hear abnormal lung sounds while listening to the chest with a stethoscope. In most people with SARS, worsening chest X-ray changes, or chest CT changes, show the presence of pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome.

The general tests used in the diagnosis of SARS might include the following:

• Blood clotting tests
• Blood chemistries
  • ALT and CPK are sometimes elevated.
  • LDH levels are often elevated.
  • Sodium and potassium are sometimes low.
• Chest X-ray or chest CT scan
• Complete blood count (CBC)
  • White blood cell (WBC) count may be low.
  • Lymphocyte count may be low.
  • Platelet count may be low.

Much attention was given early in the outbreak to developing a quick, sensitive test for SARS. Specific tests include the PCR test for SARS virus, antibody tests for SARS, and direct SARS virus isolation. All current tests have some limitations.

References

Vijayanand P, Wilkins E, Woodhead M. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): a review. Clin Med. 2004 Mar-Apr;4(2):152-60.

Ng EK, Lo YM. Molecular diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Methods Mol Biol. 2006;336:163-75.