Ano ba ang MERS Coronavirus? Symptoms, cure, remedy, treatment

Dr. Marie Gabrielle Laguna-Bedia
is a Medical expert in the Philippines


Tanong: Ano ang MERS?


Sagot: Oo. Ang WHO at ang CDC ay hindi pa nagbibigay ng travel advisory sa anumang bansa na may kaugnayan sa MERS.


Tanong: Paano kung naglakbay ako kamakailan sa mga bansa sa Arabian Peninsula o sa mga kalapit na bansa at nagkasakit ako?


Sagot: Kung nagkaroon ka ng lagnat at sintomas ng lower respiratory illness tulad ng ubo o kahirapan sa paghinga, sa loob ng 14 araw pagkatapos maglakbay sa mga bansa sa Arabian Peninsula o mga kalapit na bansa, dapat kang magpakunsulta sa iyong duktor at banggitin ang tungkol sa paglakbay mo kamakailan lamang.


Tanong: Paano ko ba maprotektahan ang sarili ko?


Sagot: Ang CDC ay nagpapayong sundin ang mga alituntuning ito upang makatulong na maiwasan ang sakit:


Madalas na hugasan ang inyong mga kamay gamit ang sabon at tubig sa loob ng 20 segundo, at turuan ang mga bata na gawin din ito. Kung walang sabon at tubig, gumamit ng alkohol-based hand sanitizer.


Takpan ang iyong ilong at bibig gamit ang tissue kapag ikaw ay umubo o bumahin at pagkatapos ay itapon ang tissue sa basurahan.


Iwasan ang paghawak sa iyong mga mata, ilong at bibig kapag hindi malinis ang iyong mga kamay.


Iwasan ang malapit na contact, gaya ng halik, o pagbabahagi ng mga tasa o eating utensil sa mga maysakit na tao.


Palaging linisin at idisimpekta ang madalas hawakan na mga gamit tulad ng mga laruan o doorknobs.


Tanong: Mayroon bang bakuna?


Sagot: Wala, pero ang CDC ay naghahanap ngayon ng mga kasosyo para sa posibilidad ng pagbuo ng mga ito.


Tanong: Ano ang mga gamot?


Sagot: Walang mga tiyak na makakagamot sa mga sakit na sanhi ng MERS-CoV. Ang supportive na medikal na pag-aalaga ay makakatulong sa pagbawas ng mga sintomas.


Tanong: Mayroon bang mga lab test?




Sagot: May mga lab test (polymerase chain reaction o PCR) para sa MERS-CoV sa mga kagawaran ng kalusugan ng estado, CDC, at ilang mga internasyonal na labs. Hndi available sa ibang laboratoryo ang MERS-CoV testing. Mayroong limitadong bilang ng mga komersyal na tests na magagamit, ngunit ang mga ito ay hindi FDA-approved.




Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. Its causative agent is the coronavirus called MERS-CoV (MERS Corona Virus). Affected persons who have been confirmed having MERS-CoV infection is faced with severe acute respiratory illness. They develop fever, cough, and difficulty and shortness in breathing. About one-third of people established to have MERS-CoV infection are included in the mortality rate.



Cause


The virus known as "MERS-CoV” causes MERS. It is from the genus of corona virus; and it is called Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. The genus coronavirus is inclusive of viruses that infect animals, cause humans to what is known as the common colds, and is responsible for causing the SARS outbreak in 2003 at China. However, the MERS-Co virus differs from the other coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV, and was not identified before 2012. Though it is not proved yet by science, it has been suggested that the MERS virus came from wild bats and then transmitted to humans through routes that are not yet known.



Signs and Symptoms


The main symptoms of MERS are cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal symptom which include diarrhea, elevated body temperature or high grade fever of over 38°C, and some people progress to kidney failure. People with pre-existing medical problems are at great risk of getting affected more seriously with the infection. Many of the fatality from MERS come from patients who had previous medical histories.



Treatment


Because of the similarity of MERS-CoV with SARS, ideas on managing MERS-CoV are being inspired fom the experience brought from the SARS outbreak last 2012. There is still some limited experimental data. Comparable to SARS, patients with MERS-CoV often necessitates oxygen supplementation, and in severe cases, the use of mechanical ventilation which then suggests intensive-care-unit support. No medication has yet been proven to address the treatment for MERS-CoV, and the control of symptoms is based upon the patient's medical condition. There have been experiments directed to find the cure for both MERS-CoV and SARS but to no avail yet. The results entail for further research to be done.



About the author

Dr. Marie Gabrielle Laguna-Bedia

Internal Medicine/ Adult Medicine/ Palliative Medicine. Online Consultation at https://www.facebook.com/bediamedicalclinic/
Profession: Internal Medicine
Bedia Medical Clinic
Office Address: Meds at Sea Pharmacy, Tabucan, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo
Philippines , Iloilo , Iloilo City

 

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