Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS): Care Instructions
Your Care Instructions
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an illness that first infected people in Asia, North America, and Europe in 2002. It causes a fever, muscle aches, and a sore throat. Some people also get a dry cough or diarrhea. Most people get pneumonia. In some cases, these symptoms get worse very quickly.
SARS is usually spread through saliva or droplets from coughing. Researchers are testing a vaccine for SARS. But it may be years before it is available.
Severe SARS can be very serious. For this reason, it is usually treated in the hospital. With treatment, most people recover.
A doctor may think that a person has SARS if the person:
- Has a fever and has a cough or trouble breathing, and
- Had close contact with a person who may have SARS or was in an area with a SARS outbreak 10 days before symptoms appeared.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
How can you care for yourself at home?
- Be safe with medicines. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
- Take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). Read and follow all instructions on the label.
- Do not take two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
When should you call for help?
Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have symptoms of SARS and you were in an area with a SARS outbreak.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:
- You do not get better as expected.
For 24/7 nurse advice and general health information call Health Link at 811.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
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Current as of: June 12, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
