title: [Severe acute respiratory syndrome: a singular epidemic of viral pneumonia].
abstract: INFECTIOUS AGENT: The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a febrile pneumonia initially observed in China at the end of 2002. The infectious agent has rapidly been identified as a new coronavirus, baptised SARS-associated coronavirus (CoV-SARS). Transmission is inter-human, via respiratory particles mainly.
  The clinical presentation is highly variable, from a mild fever to an acute respiratory distress syndrome. There is no specific treatment. Ribavirin associated with steroids have been used with success in numerous cases.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  During the first half of 2003, the spreading of the virus has been very fast, with a pandemic mode of evolution. More than 8,000 people were infected and 774 died. The reservoir of the virus, which may be animal, is still unknown. The epidemic seems to be controlled, but sporadic or epidemic re-emergences may occur and have been observed in China during January 2004.
authors.affiliation: Service de maladies infectieuses et tropicales, hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris.
authors.forename: Amélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guihot
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bricaire
authors.forename: Taisheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bossi
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010356:Patient Isolation; D011379:Prognosis; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; 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 / Q000821:virology; D014776:Virus Cultivation
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D010100:Oxygen