MERS: what is it, symptoms and treatment

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, also known as MERS, is a disease caused by the virus of the family of the MERS-CoV coronavirus, which causes fever, coughs and nausea, and can even cause pneumonia or kidney failure when the immune system he is debilitated, due to HIV or treatment for cancer, for example, and in these cases there is a greater risk of death.

This disease originally appeared in Saudi Arabia, but it has spread to more than 24 countries, although it especially affects countries in the Middle East and seems to spread through drops of saliva, easily transmitted by everyone who is upset.

The treatment of this syndrome consists only in relieving the symptoms because it is caused by a virus, which, however, does not have a specific treatment. To protect yourself, it is important to keep a safe distance of at least 6 meters from the sick person, in addition, in order not to catch this virus, it is recommended not to travel to regions where there are cases of this disease, as there is no vaccine, no specific treatment.

main symptoms

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

• Fever above 38ºC;
• Persistent tones;
• lack of air;
• 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 doubt, you should go to the doctor and inform that I am in one of the places affected by the coronavirus, as it is a disease that must be of the knowledge of the authorities.

Some people, despite being contaminated, only present mild symptoms, similar to a common flu. However, they can transmit the disease to others and they are seriously affected due to their own health status before being contaminated.

how to protect yourself

The best way to prevent an infection with MERS is to avoid contact with infected people or animals and to avoid traveling to the countries of the Middle East during times of epidemic. Anyone who lives in these places must wear a mask on their face to protect themselves.

The 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.

Until the MERS epidemic has been controlled, you should avoid traveling to these countries and preventing contact with camels or dromedaries, because it is believed that they can transmit the coronavirus.

How to avoid transmission

As there is no specific vaccine against MERS, to avoid contamination by other people, it is recommended that the patient not attend work or school and have the following care:

• Wash your hands with water and soap frequently, and use alcohol in gel to disinfect your hands;
• Whenever you break or clip, you should put a removable pad on your nose or mouth to contain secretions and prevent the virus from spreading, put the pad on the paper;
• Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth without washing hands;
• Avoid close contact with other people, avoiding kisses and hugs;
• Do not share personal use objects such as cubbies, plates or vases with other persons;
• Passing a cloth with alcohol on all surfaces with which it is necessary to be in contact, such as the handles of the puertas, the computer keyboard, among others.

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

How is the treatment performed?

The treatment consists of relieving symptoms and is generally carried out at home. However, some patients may have complications such as pneumonia or kidney involvement and, in these cases, they must remain hospitalized to receive the necessary care.

Healthy people who are contaminated 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 contaminated or seriously affected, with greater risk of death.

During the illness, the patient must remain at rest, staying in quarantine, following all the doctor’s instructions to avoid transmitting the virus to other people. Severely affected patients, who develop pneumonia or renal failure, must remain hospitalized in order to receive all the necessary care. In these cases, the patient may need to breathe with the aid 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, have a healthy diet, ingest the largest amount of vegetables, vegetables, fruits and meats without fat, while avoiding industrialized and processed foods .

Improving intestinal functioning can contribute to a faster recovery and for this reason, it is recommended to eat yogurts with probiotics and eat more fiber-rich foods. Know what are the probiotics and how to take them and what are the foods rich in fiber.

signs of improvement

In the people who have a good state of health and no one has a chronic or autoimmune disease and who are rarely sick, the signs of improvement only appear after a few days, reducing general malaise and fever.

Signs of empeoramiento and complications

The signs that indicate that the disease is getting worse, it appears in patients who suffer from other diseases, which poses the weak immune system. In these cases, the illness can get worse and symptoms may appear, such as increased fever, much phlegm, difficulty breathing, pain in the pecho and escalophries that suggest the presence of pneumonia or symptoms such as decreased urinary production and body swelling , which suggest renal failure.

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