What are the symptoms of SARS?
A. The illness usually begins with a high fever (body temperature greater than 38.0C). The fever is sometimes associated with chills or other symptoms, including headache, general feeling of discomfort, confusion and body aches. Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms at the start. Diarrhoea is seen in 10 to 20 per cent of patients. After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry cough that may lead to increasing shortness of breath. Most patients develop pneumonia.
• Fever over 100.4 F (38 C) • Cough • Shortness of breath • Difficulty breathing • Other breathing problems Call one of the phone numbers below if you develop any of these symptoms. During Lafene hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., call Lafene at 785.532.6544. At any other time, call Mercy Regional Health Center at 785.776.2800. No matter which location you call, mention that you are calling about SARS.
The signs and symptoms of the illness are: sudden onset of high fever (>38oC) and one or more of the following respiratory symptoms: dry cough, sore throat, breathing difficulties; and possibly muscle pain, headache or diarrhoea and one or more of the following: • onset of symptoms within ten days of travel from a SARS-affected area; • onset of symptoms within ten days of close contact with a person with SARS. (Close contact includes having cared for, lived with or had direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of a person with SARS.
The main symptoms of SARS are high fever (> 38° Celsius), dry cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties. Changes in chest X-rays indicative of pneumonia also occur. SARS may be associated with other symptoms, including headache, muscular stiffness, loss of appetite, malaise, confusion, rash and diarrhoea.
