Severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, is a serious form of pneumonia caused by a virus. According to the World Health Organization, a total of 8,098 people worldwide became sick with SARS during the 2003 outbreak. Of these, 774 died. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases states that there is no cure for SARS. Current SARS treatment involves supportive medical therapy in order to relieve symptoms and prevent complications
Antibiotics
According to the MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, antibiotics are used to relieve symptoms of pneumonia that are present in SARS patients. Antibiotics do not kill the SARS virus.
Antiviral Drugs
Antivirals such as Ribavirin and Kaletra are used to treat SARS. Ribavirin is a nucleoside analog that is effective in treating many viral infections. Kaletra is an HIV medication that has been successful in treating SARS. Drug combinations of Kaletra and Ribavirin have been successful in preventing serious complications and death from SARS.
Corticosteroids
Patients with SARS are treated with large doses of corticosteroids, which reduce lung inflammation. Solu Medrol is an example of a corticosteroid that is normally used to treat SARS
Supplemental Oxygen
Supplemental oxygen is prescribed for SARS patients with breathing difficulties. When breathing problems become severe, patients are placed on mechanical ventilators, which are machines that assist patients in breathing.
