The Appearance of Worldwide SARS as a New Infectious Agent
by Basil B. Williams, D.O.
SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) was first reported in China
in
November, 2002 as an acute respiratory illness thought to be caused by a
new
virulent strain of coronavirus that is associated with the common cold.
SARS, according to the World Health Organization has a mortality rate
of
approximately l5% . The number of cases reported worldwide is about 7,000
as of
the middle of May, 2003. Fortunately it has been limited to its origin
in
Singapore, China and the surrounding areas as well as sporadic cases in
Viet
Nam, Hong Kong and Canada. There appears to be a few probable cases
reported in
the United States with no deaths. The epidemic is probably under control
in
China and the number of new cases is receding. Severity and mortality of
the
illness is far less in the very young and increases in the elderly. In a
typical
flu season here in the United States, the mortality rate is less than l %.
SARS
does not appear to be as contagious as the flu virus but it can be
spread
directly from one person to another by contact with respiratory secretions
or
body fluids from a patient infected with SARS. The definition of a SARS
case by
the Center for Disease Control is as follows: A temperature of l00.5 or
greater,
respiratory findings (cough, shortness of breath, pneumonia on X-ray),
and
travel history within l0 days of onset of symptoms.
From an anthroposophically extended medical point of view, a balanced
lifestyle
with good nutrition, proper rest and positivity go a long way to prevent
all
kinds of colds, flus and upper respiratory infections and to boost our
immune
system to overcome these illnesses. Too much stress on the neurosensory
system
in daily life allows unwanted forces from the lower metabolic system to
move up
to the respiratory system (the throat, sinuses and bronchial tree) creating
the
environment for viruses and bacteria to carry on their infectious
processes. In
other words, the soil is prepared for their growth and development. Most
likely
SARS will be contained and eliminated worldwide and will not be a
future
problem, but other infectious forms will continue to evolve and will need
to be
monitored.
Basil B. Williams, D.O., Former Professor of Medicine, Internal Medicine
and
Infectious Disease of the Midwestern University in Chicago. He now resides
in
Arlington, MA.