Symptoms Of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

Coughing

Since MERS is a respiratory illness, coughing is a major symptom, along with shortness of breath. This happens because the virus directly attacks the lungs. The severity of the coughing varies from person to person. It may be as mild as a common cold; on the other hand, some patients experience severe fluid buildup in the lungs that develops into pneumonia or adult respiratory distress syndrome. The latter, also known as ARDS, involves a severe lack of oxygen in the blood. Both pneumonia and ARDS are deadly complications that contribute to the high fatality rate of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The risk is augmented in individuals who have preexisting lung problems.

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Kidney Failure

One potential outcome of MERS is kidney failure. This is often the cause of death in severe cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. Patients who get to this advanced disease stage usually have other medical issues that cause complications. Things like lung diseases, heart problems, and diabetes are thought to contribute to an increased risk of severe complications. These conditions may even increase an individual's risk of contracting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in the first place. This does not mean healthy individuals are immune to the virus or that they will not develop kidney failure from it. However, their risk is thought to be significantly lower.

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