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SARS (SUDDEN ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME)
This disease attacks the respiratory (breathing) system of a person and can become a life threatening problem. The acute part means rapid onset and the problem may result from a brief high intensity exposure to someone with the illness. The syndrome part means a group of symptoms (signs) running together that make up a "picture" of a certain disease. SARS is caused by a virus. A virus is an infectious agent, smaller than most bacteria, and it needs a living cell to invade and live in to be activated and work its mischief.
What happens is that the SARS virus finds weakened or "dirty" cells in the lungs to enter and multiply. The virus destroys cells in the lungs and then the process of putrefaction (rotting) occurs. The lungs draw in fluid to dilute these poisons. All this cuts down on the amount of oxygen the lungs can take up. Breathing becomes labored and the person's temperature climbs. If the lungs are not oxygenated, strengthened and cleaned; death can result.
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