SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS) - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS) -
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS .

What is SARS?

SARS is the short form for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. SARS is an atypical pneumonia of viral orgin.

What is atypical pneumonia?

Atypical pneumonia refers to an infection of the lung that is caused by certain organisms such as Mycoplasma, Legionella and Chlamydia. However, the type of atypical pneumonia (SARS) that occurred in the persons who had travelled to Hong Kong, Hanoi and Guangdong province in China is a new type, and the organism causing it has been identified to be a virus.

Is SARS infectious?

The infection can spread to persons who have had close contact with an infected person. Based on information so far, contacts who have been infected in Singapore were family members and friends, and healthcare workers who had come into close contact with the patients, and who had attended to the patients when they were first admitted to the hospital.

Is SARS dangerous?

SARS, like any other atypical pneumonia, is a serious infection that can potentially lead to death in some cases.

What are the symptoms that I should look out for?

The condition tends to present initially with the symptoms of the common flu, namely:

a. Fever and chills

b. Shortness of breath

c. Cough, sore throat and blocked, or runny nose

d. Muscle and joint aches

e. Weakness and fatigue

However, you should be especially wary if you also have the following conditions:

a. If you have a high fever (>38 degrees Celsius) that comes very suddenly, muscle ache, cough and breathing difficulty.

b. If you have travelled to Hong Kong, Hanoi or the Guangdong province in China within the last 2 weeks since the onset of the symptoms.

c. If you have come into close contact with anyone who has SARS or who has been suspected of having SARS or presented with the same conditions above.

What should I do if I think that I may have contracted SARS?

If you do have the symptoms described above, you should seek urgent medical attention from any of your nearby clinics or polyclinics.

What precautions can I take to avoid getting SARS?.

There is no known vaccination or medication that you can take which can offer you protection, instead, the common sense approach is to:

a. Avoid crowded places. Keep a fair distance from people who are ill and are sneezing and coughing openly. The virus is spread through air droplets and you can pick up the virus through inhalation; possibly close contact and handling of body fluids.

b. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Exercise regularly, eat wisely and if you can, keep your stress levels low.

Your primary defence against the infection is your body's immune response, which is related to how healthy you are. Vitamins C, E and antioxidant can help in maintaining a healthy immune system.

Where can I call to obtain general info on SARS?

You can call the Ministry of Health's hotline (Tel: 1800-2254122) from Mon to Fri at 8.30 am to 6.00pm and Sat from 8.30am to 1.00 pm.

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