Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - SARS

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. Over the next few months, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before the SARS global outbreak of 2003 was contained.

The SARS outbreak of 2003
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 8,098 people worldwide became sick with SARS during the 2003 outbreak. Of these, 774 died. In the United States, only eight people had laboratory evidence of SARS-CoV infection. All of these people had traveled to other parts of the world with SARS. SARS did not spread more widely in the community in the United States.

Symptoms of SARS
In general, SARS begins with a high fever (temperature greater than 100.4°F [>38.0°C]). Other symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some people also have mild respiratory symptoms at the outset. About 10 percent to 20 percent of patients have diarrhea. After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry cough. Most patients develop pneumonia.

How SARS spreads
The main way that SARS seems to spread is by close person-to-person contact. The virus that causes SARS is thought to be transmitted most readily by respiratory droplets (droplet spread) produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplet spread can happen when droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled a short distance (generally up to 3 feet) through the air and deposited on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, or eyes of persons who are nearby. The virus also can spread when a person touches a surface or object contaminated with infectious droplets and then touches his or her mouth, nose, or eye(s). In addition, it is possible that the SARS virus might spread more broadly through the air (airborne spread) or by other ways that are not now known.

What does “close contact” mean?
In the context of SARS, close contact means having cared for or lived with someone with SARS or having direct contact with respiratory secretions or body fluids of a patient with SARS. Examples of close contact include kissing or hugging, sharing eating or drinking utensils, talking to someone within 3 feet, and touching someone directly. Close contact does not include activities like walking by a person or briefly sitting across a waiting room or office.

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders describe a range of behavioral issues that may occur in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood.
Mood disorders affect as many as 7% of Americans in any given year. The most common types are depression or mania (or a combination, known as bipolar disorder). Major depressive disorder is the most common diagnosis, and occurs twice as often in women as in men. Mood disorders are considered one of the top ten causes of disability worldwide.

Parents often miss depression in their teenagers. Undiagnosed depression can cause serious life-long problems with achievement, socialization, and health in general. The worst complication of uncontrolled depression is suicide.

HOW ARE MOOD DISORDERS DIFFERENT IN TEENS?
Children and teenagers with mood disorders quite often go undiagnosed. Parents and teachers might simply write the child off as “difficult” and “obstinate,” not realizing there is an underlying psychological issue that must be dealt with by a professional.

DID YOU KNOW?

As many as 14% of children will experience at least one episode of major depression by their 15th birthday? Girls are significantly more likely to experience depression than boys after the age of 16.

The reasons it can be difficult to diagnose depression in adolescents are:

Teens do not always have the verbal skill or vocabulary to be able to express exactly what or how they are feeling;

The symptoms of depression and bipolar disorder are often different in children / teenagers than they are in adults;

A teen might have a dual diagnosis, with the more “obvious” illness masking an underlying problem with depression;

Physicians often do not expect to see mood disorders in teens so they simply do not look for them.

A depressed adolescent may be disruptive, begin showing academic difficulties, and start to develop problems with peer relationships. They may be irritable and aggressive. Often the only way these teens can express their feelings is by saying they hate themselves and their family. They may threaten suicide, but lack of a suicide threat does not mean they are not at risk.

Bipolar disorder also expresses itself differently in teenagers than in adults. Rather than bouts of euphoric moods, the bipolar teen may express the manic behavior through aggression or temper tantrums. Parents report these teens are very “moody, irritable, and aggressive.” These children may have sudden outbursts of anger or crying jags or might seem to be agitated for prolonged periods of time. Many clinicians describe bipolar disorder in this group as more “chronic” rather than “acute.”

TREATMENT AND INTERVENTION FOR TEEN DEPRESSION AND MOOD DISORDERS.
The first step in assessing your child’s mood and mental health status is to contact a local psychologist or psychiatrist who specializes in adolescents.

I made this post because I sometimes have this mood disorder thingy, I mean, I sometimes wake in the morning feeling sad, angry and sometimes I wake with the decision I wont talk, laugh or play with anyone. I have spoken to some good friends about my moods (when I have them) and they have helped me in their own little way. I also read online and that has also helped. I sincerely hope this article will help those that read it.