title: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
abstract: Several cases of life threatening respiratory disease with no identifiable cause were reported from Guangdong Province, China; these were soon followed by reports from many other countries. The disease was named as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). A novel coronavirus, isolated from the respiratory secretions of patients, has been implicated in the causation of SARS. The modes of transmission include droplet spread, close contact, and Fomites; shedding of virus from respiratory tract is the primary mode of transmission. SARS clinically presents with high-grade fever, chills and rigors, myalgia, headache, cough with or without sputum production, dyspnea, and dizziness. Chest radiographs reveal unilateral or bilateral, predominantly peripheral, areas of consolidation progressing with in a short time of bilateral patchy consolidation. Preliminary reports suggest a milder illness in young children. The case definition of probable SARS cases, laboratory investigations and precautions for prevention of spread are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lodha
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kabra
mesh_terms: D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D011379:Prognosis; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D014195:Travel