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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.
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