There are a number of epidemics that have gained worldwide notoriety and SARS is just one of them. For instance, the latest health scare going around appears to be swine flu. The number of half-baked rumors and alleged cures going around pose yet another risk to the general public. Understand that SARS, which first hit around the year 2002, is Severe acute respiratory syndrome, which is the result of a kind of coronavirus. SARS-CoV is the term given to this particular virus. It is thought that this disease may have first occurred in animals. When it comes to prevention of SARS, one has to be aware of what leads to SARS. Contact, as with so many respiratory diseases, is what you need to be worried about. Now such contact could be with someone’s infected saliva or, as what happens when people don’t cover their faces properly, cough droplets. A little sensitivity when coming into contact with SARS patients is important since one won’t get the respiratory illness with simple casual and short exposure. For instance, if you happen to simply pass by someone who has the SARS virus, it doesn’t mean you will get it. However, close contact or proximity of less than 3 feet could lead the virus to spread. This is why it is imperative to take precautions while dealing with SARS patients. With SARS, hygiene becomes exceptionally important, such as cleaning one’s hands with soap or perhaps an alcohol based cleanser.
Symptoms are much like other respiratory illnesses or flu symptoms such as dry coughing, fever (look for one that is above 100.4 F) and problems breathing. There could be a number of accompanying SARS symptoms like aches, fatigue and a throat that is sore. In addition to the prescribed SARS medication, you can supplement recovery by home treatments such as fluids and rest. It is recommended that home stay be undertaken in case of such illness. Hygiene, such as frequent hand washes, becomes important for both SARS patients and caregivers. Make nutritious food choices to help your body battle SARS. If you suspect, as per the above mentioned SARS symptoms, a possible case of this disease, it is imperative that you take steps to ensure that it doesn’t spread to other family members and that you visit your doctor. Even when you go to the doctor’s office, try to see that there is no spread of this infection to others in the waiting room or at his or her office.