Clinical feature and immunological analysis of a cluster of medical workers with severe acute respiratory syndrome in Guangzhou / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics,chest radiography, serum immunology and conditions in convalescence in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS). Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 22 medical workers with SARS and observed the change of Immunoglobulin M and Immunoglobulin G in their serial sera immunology. Results The patients ranged from 23 to 53 years old (mean age 32.5?7.0). The incubation period ranged from 2 to 7 days(mean period 4.1?1.49 ). Infectious patterns suggested through air droplet or close contact transmission. The most common symptoms included fever(100%), chilly(68.2%), followed by nonproductive cough (72.7%) and dyspnea (63.6%) associated with infiltrates on chest radiography (77.3%). Normal in white blood count or Leukopenia (90.9%) , Lymphopenia (45.5%) and elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (54.5%) were common. By testing the serum IgM and IgG antibody of patients, we found a positive result in 2 weeks after the onset of SARS. Though IgM antibody show negative 3 months later, IgG antibody remained a high level. Conclusions SARS appears to be highly infectious.Fever and subsequent respiratory syndrome is the most common symptom and sign. Our research has disclosed that a positive serum IgM antibody means a infection in the near future, while a positive serum IgG antibody indicates a infection of past and probably with immunity.