What It Is
SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is a respiratory illness that primarily affects the lungs but may also involve the digestive tract.
The Symptoms
In the first phase, patients get a fever of 100.4°F or more, with chills, headache and muscle aches. Within a week, most develop a dry cough and difficulty in breathing; about 10% to 20% require a ventilator. Some also get severe diarrhea.
The Cause
Scientists have identified a previously unknown virus in the coronavirus family as the primary cause of SARS. Coronaviruses often infect animals and until now caused only mild illness in people. It...
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