What exactly is SARS?
SARS stands for "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome" and that means exactly this:
Severe—very dangerous or harmful
Acute—very sudden onset and usually doesn't last a long time
Respiratory—having to do with breathing
Syndrome—a group of symptoms
Put that all together and you have a very dangerous illness that starts suddenly, usually doesn't last long, and involves some kind of breathing difficulty like pneumonia, and a high fever.
What are the symptoms?
It usually begins with a high fever, over 100.4° and some mild respiratory symptoms, like a dry cough or shortness of breath. Some people have chills, headache, lack of appetite, body aches, and sore throat. After a couple of days, people with SARS can develop a severe pneumonia with a bad cough and difficulty breathing.
I know people who have those symptoms. Could they have SARS?
In order to be considered a case of SARS, someone would have to have these symptoms AND have traveled to or been a close contact to someone who was sick with these symptoms AND traveled to an area where there are confirmed or suspect cases of SARS. This exposure would have to be within 10 days before the onset of symptoms.
How is it spread?
It appears to be spread the same way a cold is spread. Someone who is sick with SARS coughs or sneezes and someone else comes along and breathes in the droplets from the air. It also may be possible that other objects could be contaminated with these droplets. For example, if someone with SARS covers his mouth while coughing and then shakes your hand, it may be possible for you to pick up the germs by touching your nose or mouth with that hand (here is where I say—Wash your hands!).
If I were exposed to someone with SARS, how long would it take to get sick?
Usually any where from 2—7 days, but it may be as long as 10 days. This is called the incubation period.
My child attends school with a girl who is from an Asian country and I know the whole family travels back and forth to this country all the time. Should I tell my child to avoid contact with this girl?
All of the information we have to date tells us that people most likely to spread SARS are those that have symptoms or who are already sick with SARS. So if the little girl is not sick, most likely she is not spreading anything. Also, the people who are most at risk of getting it are those who have close contact to an infected person, like a household contact or a health care worker taking care of someone who has SARS.
I have a daycare and I know there is a family from my center who spent a month in China. Should I let the children back in day care?
If the children are not sick with a fever or respiratory problems, they probably are not spreading anything. If they are sick with a fever or respiratory problems, then they shouldn't be in your daycare. If they have a fever and respiratory problems within 10 days of travel, they should see their health care provider immediately for evaluation.
My husband is coming back from a business trip to Hong Kong and China. Is it safe to let him back in the house? And should he go back to work?
If your husband is healthy there is no reason to keep him separated from other people, at home or at work. Travelers from affected countries should be given a travel alert card that explains the steps they need to take if they start to develop symptoms. If a fever or respiratory symptoms develop within 10 days of their return, they should contact their medical provider immediately and make the clinician aware of the travel history.
Where can I get the best and most current information on SARS?
The best place to find information is on the CDC's website at http://www.cdc.gov/ and check it frequently because information is constantly changing.
What if I want to talk to a live person?
You can call the Health Department at 704.336.6438.
