Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

SARS; Respiratory failure - SARS; SARS coronavirus; SARS-CoV

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a serious form of pneumonia. Infection with the SARS virus causes acute respiratory distress (severe breathing difficulty), and sometimes death.

This article is about the outbreak of SARS that occurred in 2003. For information about the COVID-19 outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2, please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Lungs

The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.

Respiratory system

Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.

Causes

Symptoms

Exams and Tests

Treatment

Outlook (Prognosis)

Possible Complications

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Prevention