Four cases of SARS confirmed by PCR

Objective To elucidate the clinical and epidemical characteristics of SARS.Methods Four SARS cases confirmed by laboratory tests were analyzed retrospectively by following up studying.All the patients didn't receive corticosteroid therapy at early stage.Results The first symptom was fever,the tiptop temperature ≥38℃.There were no headache,sore throat.Pharynx was not congested and the tonsils were not enlarged.Lymphocyte counts were not low at early stages of SARS.Liver damage was present in most of the patients,which have no relationship with the degree of illness.Renal function was normal in all cases.CRP was abnormally rising. Fever remained 4 and 6 days in 2 patients receiving no corticosteroid therapy.One patient had double-phase fever with progressively decrease of LYM died.Temperature dropped to normal 20 hours after corticosteroid therapy(160 mg/d) in a patient with 15 days lasting fever.Three patients isolated within 3 days of onset of symptom did not transmitted SARS to others.Conclusion The clinical symptoms of SARS are distinguishable from influenza at early stage. Decreasing of LYM indicates the deterioration of SARS development.It seems no infectivity during the incubation period and early stage of the disease.Corticosteroid therapy should be selectively used.