Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS): what it is, Symptoms and Treatment

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, also known as MERS, is a disease caused by the virus of the MERS-CoV coronavirus family, which causes fever, cough, and sneezing, and can even cause pneumonia or kidney failure when the immune system It is weakened, due to HIV or cancer treatments, for example, and in these cases, there is an increased risk of death.

This disease originally arose in Saudi Arabia, but it has already spread to more than 24 countries, although it particularly affects countries in the Middle East and apparently spreads through drops of saliva, easily transmitted by coughing or sneezing.

The treatment of this syndrome consists only of the relief of symptoms because it is caused by a virus, which does not yet have a specific treatment. To protect yourself, it is important to maintain a safe distance of at least 6 meters from the patient, in addition, in order not to be infected with this virus, it is advised not to travel to regions where there are cases of this disease because there is no vaccine or specific treatment.

Main Symptoms

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

• Fever above 38 ° C;
• Persistent cough;
• Shortness of breath;
• Some patients may have nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

These symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after contact with the virus and therefore, in case of suspicion you should go to the medical post and report that it was in one of the places affected by the coronavirus because it is a disease that must be of the knowledge of the authorities.

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

How to Protect Yourself

The best way to prevent an infection with MERS is to avoid contact with contaminated people or animals and avoid traveling to the countries of the Middle East during times of epidemic. Who lives in these places should wear a mask on his face to protect himself.

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, travel to those countries should be avoided and contact with camels or dromedaries should be avoided because it is believed that they can be transmitted to the coronavirus.

How to Avoid Transmission 

As there is not yet a specific vaccine against MERS, to avoid contamination of other people, it is recommended that the patient does not attend work or school and take the following care:

• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, and use gel alcohol to disinfect your hands;
• Whenever you sneeze or cough you should place a tissue on your nose or mouth to contain the secretions and prevent the virus from spreading, throw the tissue in the bin;
• Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth without washing your hands;
• Avoid close contact with other people, avoiding kisses and hugs;
• Do not share personal items such as cutlery, plates or glasses with other people;
• Run a cloth with alcohol on all surfaces that are usually in contact, such as the door handles, the computer keyboard, among others.

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

How the Treatment is Performed

The treatment involves the relief of symptoms and is usually done 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 severely affected, with greater Death risk.

During the illness the patient must remain at rest, being quarantined, following all the doctor's guidelines to avoid transmitting the virus to other people. Severely affected patients, who develop pneumonia or renal insufficiency must remain hospitalized so that they receive all the necessary care. In these 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 advised to drink 2 liters of water per day, have a healthy diet, eat as many vegetables, vegetables, fruits, and meats without fat, while industrialized and processed foods should be avoided.

Improving bowel function can contribute to a faster recovery and therefore, it is recommended to eat yogurts with probiotics and eat more fiber-rich foods.

Signs of Improvement

In people who have a good state of health and do not have any chronic or autoimmune disease and who are rarely ill, signs of improvement usually arise after a few days, reducing general malaise and fever.

Signs of Worsening and Complications 

Signs that indicate that the disease is getting worse usually arise in patients who suffer from other diseases or who have a weak immune system. In these cases, the disease can worsen and symptoms arise, such as increased fever, high phlegm, difficulty breathing, chest pain and chills that suggest the presence of pneumonia or symptoms such as decreased urine output and body swelling. , which suggests renal failure.

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