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SARS
by Dr. Rajesh Shah Introduction: SARS is a short form for Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome. SARS is a respiratory disease never
known to the medical world before it was first reported
earlier in March 2003. SARS was reported first in
Guangdong Province (China), Hanoi (Vietnam) and spread to
Hong Kong, North America. As on the 1st April, 2003, there
are about 70 cases reported in the US. The disease is
reported to have spread to several countries, mainly
through travelers.
As on 6th April 2003, four more people, including three in
Hong Kong and one in Canada. Hong Kong has reported 39 new
cases of SARS bringing its total to 800 people infected.
At least 79 people have contracted the virus in Canada,
the worst affected country outside Asia. So far SARS has
killed over 90 people and infected 2,300 people worldwide.
What is SARS?
The medical world knows little about this condition, as it
is a disease of recent origin. The World Health
Organization (WHO) and The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), is a US Government recognized institute
in Atlanta, have released information on SARS.
What causes SARS?
In two patients suffering from SARS, the CDC has detected
a virus called coronavirus, which was never found in
humans earlier. Corona means a crown. The virus has crown
(=corona) like shape, hence labeled as Corona virus. It
must be noted that the link of SARS with corona virus is
still not well understood, and there is a possibility of SARS to have causes other than the so-called coronavirus. Based on the symptoms observed in a few
patients with SARS, it appears that the symptoms are
similar to flu (influenza) and pneumonia (inflammation of
the lungs). The ailment clinically could be called as
Atypical Pneumonia and Atypical Influenza.
What are the symptoms of SARS?
As observed in some patients evaluated by CDC and the WHO,
the symptoms are as under:
Within 2 to 7 days of exposure to the infection, the
symptoms may begin with low-grade fever, which may be
100.4 or more. Fever may be associated with chills,
headache, body ache, malaise, and weakness. Since the
virus seems to affect the respiratory tract, the patient
may experience difficulty in breathing and respiratory
distress. Due to the affection of the respiratory tubes by
the virus, there is insufficiency of oxygen, which leads
to difficulty in breathing. In 10 to 20 % of the cases
reported so far, severe respiratory distress has been
observed, requiring mechanical ventilator. Dry cough is an
associated symptom The symptoms as above are similar to
influenza (flu) and pneumonia; typical of any virus
infection.
Can homoeopathy help SARS:
Well, since the disease is new in appearance, the opinion
on the efficacy of homoeopathy for SARS has to be based on
the basis of the capacity of the homoeopathic medicines to
handle similar situations. Broadly, it has to be noted if
homoeopathy can help conditions such as viral infections
like influenza or viral pneumonitis.
Fortunately, it has been collective experience of the
homoeopathic profession over last 200 years that
homoeopathy has effective treatment for following virus
ailments:
• Influenza
• Viral pneumonitis
• Viral warts
• Viral infections such as Hepatitis A and B
In the light of the established role of homoeopathy for
viral infection, there is little or no doubt that
homoeopathy can help SARS.
In the light of no definite medicines in allopathy for
SARS or for viral respiratory diseases, except offering
ventilators, oxygen support therapy, antibiotic cover and
some nonspecific antiviral medication, it can be well
suggested that the homoeopathy medicines are evaluated and
incorporated while treating SARS.
The author (and compiler) of this write-up wants to
strongly suggest to the patients, relatives and the health
authorities of the concerned Government departments, it
will be wise to incorporate homoeopathy as a part of the
strategy to address SARS. |
