Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffMost people with SARS develop pneumonia. Breathing problems can become so severe that a mechanical respirator is required. SARS is fatal in some cases, often due to respiratory failure. Other possible complications include heart and liver failure.
People older than the age of 60 — especially those with underlying conditions such as diabetes or hepatitis — are at highest risk of serious complications.
References
- Cleri DJ, et al. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 2010;24:175.
- Fact sheet: Basic information about SARS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/factsheet.htm. Accessed Oct. 21, 2010.
- McIntosh K. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 21, 2010.
- Anderson LJ. Coronaviruses. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/223480227-3/1071810982/1492/1313.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50394-3--cesec5_16431. Accessed Oct. 21, 2010.
- Supplement I: Infection control in healthcare, home and community settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/guidance/i/pdf/i.pdf. Accessed Oct. 21, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on