SARS: A New Outbreak, A New Culprit, A New Puzzle

Abstract

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is aviral transmissable disease which has first emerged in Guangdong province of China in the last few months of2002. Studies has shown that a type of Coronavirus is responsible for this syndrome. The initial symptoms are non-specific such as fever, chills and myalgia. Dry cough and dyspnea are also observed. Ten to twenty percent of patients develop ARDS. Clinical findings and chest X rayare useful for diagnosis. There is usually bilateral involvement of lower lobes of the lung. There are no specific therapy modalities yet. High rate of transmissibility, high rate of morbidity and mortality (%5) are characteristic for this syndrome.