Living with Severe acute respiratory syndrome
A lung illness caused by a coronavirus that brings fever, cough, and breathing trouble; first seen in 2002.
Understanding Severe acute respiratory syndrome
Symptoms start 2 to 7 days after infection and feel like the flu, with fever, tiredness, muscle aches, headache, diarrhea, and chills. A dry cough and trouble breathing are common. Severe cases can progress quickly to breathing failure that needs intensive care. The disease appeared in 2002 in southern China and spread in 2003 to 26 countries.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Trouble breathing
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Tiredness, diarrhea, and chills
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include lung and breathing specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Lung and breathing specialists (pulmonologists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with American Lung Association
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
It is caused by infection with the SARS-CoV coronavirus, and it spreads from person to person.
Also known as: acute respiratory coronavirus infection; sars; sars coronavirus caused disease or disorder; sars coronavirus disease or disorder; sars coronavirus infectious disease; sars-1
Patient organizations
- American Lung AssociationSevere acute respiratory syndrome · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Explore research for Severe acute respiratory syndrome
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- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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