Symptoms Of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is an often-deadly respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus. It is sometimes called the camel flu because it is believed camels can spread it to humans. However, most individuals become infected with MERS while in the hospital. Though some patients who contract the disease have few or no symptoms, others can become severely ill. Over a third of those infected end up dying from the disease. The risk of severe illness is increased for patients who have preexisting health conditions. Get to know the warning signs of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome now.

Often Asymptomatic

Even though MERS has a deadly reputation, it is often asymptomatic. Some individuals who are exposed to the virus have little to no reaction to it. At worst, they may have a few symptoms characteristic of a common cold, and they recover quickly. Individuals may not even be aware they had MERS. Due to some patient's lack of symptoms, cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome may be underreported. This leads to potentially inaccurate statistics on the disease. For example, it has been reported over thirty percent of individuals who become infected with MERS die. However, this statistic is based only on the cases that have been reported and verified. The fatality rate of the illness might be significantly lower if all of the unreported cases were accounted for.

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Fever

According to theCenters For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), fever is one of the primary symptoms of MERS. This symptom often appears first, and patients sometimes assume they have the flu. High body temperature alone is not enough to suggest Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is the culprit. However, if someone experiences a fever after traveling to the Middle East (and especially after visiting a hospital in the Middle East or having contact with camels), they should carefully monitor the development of further symptoms. If the high temperature is accompanied by respiratory distress, MERS should be considered as a potential cause. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome can be quickly confirmed by taking a blood or sputum sample and testing it for the presence of antibodies against the coronavirus.

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