Mers: what it is, symptoms and treatment

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, also known only as MERS is a disease caused by the MERS coronavirus, which causes fever, coughing and sneezing, and can even cause pneumonia or kidney failure when the immune system is weakened due to HIV or cancer treatments for example, and in these cases there is a greater risk of death.

This disease originally appeared in Saudi Arabia, but has already spread to more than 24 countries, although it especially affects countries in the Middle East and appears to spread through droplets of saliva, being easily transmitted by coughing or sneezing, for example.

The treatment of this syndrome consists only in the relief of symptoms because it is caused by a virus, which still does not have a specific treatment. To protect yourself it is important to keep a safe distance of 6 meters from the patient, and in addition, to avoid catching this virus, it is advisable not to travel to regions where there are cases of this disease because it does not have a vaccine or specific treatment.

Main symptoms

In many cases, the symptoms of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome can be difficult to identify, however the most common include:

• Fever above 38ºC; Persistent cough; Shortness of breath; Some patients may experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

These symptoms can appear from 2 to 14 days after contact with the virus and therefore, in case of suspicion, you should go to the emergency room and inform that you were in one of the places affected by the coronavirus, because this is a disease that must be knowledge of the authorities.

Some people, despite being infected, have only mild symptoms, similar to the common flu. However, they can transmit the disease to others and they can be severely affected due to their own state of health before being infected.

How to protect yourself

The best way to prevent an infection with MERS is to avoid contact with contaminated people or animals in addition to avoid traveling to countries in the Middle East, during times of epidemic. Those who live in these places should wear a mask on their face to protect themselves.

Countries that belong to the Middle East include:

• Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria, Yemen, Kuwait, Bahrain, I ran.

Until the MERS epidemic has been brought under control, the need to travel to these countries and avoid contact with camels and dromedaries should be considered, as it is believed that they can also transmit the coronavirus.

How to avoid transmission

As there is still no specific vaccine against MERS, to avoid contamination from other people it is recommended that the patient does not attend work or school and take the following precautions:

• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, and then use gel alcohol to disinfect your hands; Whenever you sneeze or cough, place a tissue over your nose and mouth to contain secretions and prevent the virus from spreading and then throw the handkerchief in the trash; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth without washing your hands; avoiding close contact with other people, avoiding kisses and hugs; not sharing personal items such as cutlery, plates or glasses with others pass a cloth with alcohol on all surfaces frequently touched like door handles, for example.

Another important precaution that the infected person should take is to avoid close contact with other people, keeping a safe distance of approximately 6 meters.

Watch the following video and check out the importance of these measures in preventing an epidemic:

How is the treatment

Treatment consists of symptom relief and is usually done at home. However, some patients may experience complications such as pneumonia or kidney impairment and in these cases they must remain hospitalized to receive the necessary care.

Healthy people who become infected are more likely to be cured, however, people with compromised immune systems, who have diabetes, cancer, heart or lung problems and kidney disease are more likely to be infected or to be severely affected, with greater risk of death.

During the illness the patient must remain at rest, being quarantined, and follow all the doctor's instructions to avoid transmitting the virus to other people. Severely affected patients, who develop pneumonia or kidney failure, must remain in the hospital to receive all necessary care. In such cases, the patient may need to breathe with the help of devices and undergo hemodialysis to filter the blood properly, preventing complications.

How to strengthen the immune system

To strengthen the immune system and facilitate recovery, it is advisable to drink 2 liters of water a day and invest in a healthy diet, ingesting more quantities of vegetables, greens, fruits and lean meats, while industrialized and processed foods should be avoided.

Improving intestinal functioning can contribute to a faster recovery and therefore it is recommended to eat yogurts with probiotics and to eat more foods rich in fiber. See examples in: Probiotics and Fiber rich foods.

Signs of improvement

In people who are in good health and have no chronic illness and who rarely become ill, signs of improvement can appear in a few days with the reduction of fever and general malaise.

Signs of worsening and complications

The signs of worsening usually appear in patients who suffer from other diseases or who have a fragile immune system. In these cases, the disease may worsen and symptoms such as increased fever, a lot of phlegm, difficulty breathing, chest pain and chills that are suggestive of pneumonia, or symptoms such as decreased urine production and body swelling, which are suggestive of renal insufficiency.

Patients who have these symptoms must remain in the hospital to receive all necessary treatment, but it is not always possible to save their lives.