Symptoms are high fever, dry cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties. Chest X-rays will show evidence of pneumonia. SARS may also be associated with other symptoms including headache, muscular stiffness, loss of appetite, malaise, confusion, rash and diarrhoea.
The World Health Organisation says that SARS is less infectious than influenza. The incubation period is two to seven days, three to five days being more common. It is not clear when the risk of passing on the bug is the greatest.
Antibiotics are ineffective, but most patients recover with supportive care. Only those who have been in the Far East, or who have been in close contact with a SARS patient, are at risk.
April 11, 2003 09:00
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