Clinical and Pathology Characteristics Analysis of 38 Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics,treatment and prognosis of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Method We collected and analyzed clinical date and a dead case from the 38 patients with SARS. Results The patients ranged from 22～67 years old (mean age 39.9),71 percent of the patients had a history of close contact with diagnosed SARS patients. The most common symptoms included fever(in 100%), cough(71.1%),shortness of breath(57.9%), 3 patients(7.9%) died. A dead case of SARS was investigated by pathology and ultramicrostructure. The principal lesions of the SARS case consisted of acute lobular intrastitial pneumonia, the hyaloid membranes of pulmnic alveoli. Conclusions SARS is a highly communicable condition with substantial mortality. Fever and shortness of breath followed by rapidly progressive respiratory compromise is the key complex of signs and symptoms. Although there are still no specific druns for the treatment, general combination therapy can be very effective in most patients.