[riri]

Has anybody read today's ProMed Update?

According to Taiwan's Center for Disease Control, positive results for the SARS virus occurs in up to 3 percent of reported cases, which is lower than expected. At least 70 percent of tested cases showed probable Chlamydia or _Mycoplasma pneumoniae_ infections. Thus, during this period, it has been recommended that atypical pneumonia should be treated with antibiotics to allow observation of the clinical response, which would facilitate the most appropriate placement of patients. The clinical and treatment procedures for patients who test positively for the SARS virus, however, should continue adherence to the established recommended procedures.

Here is the Chlamydia again? Have you been reading that anywhere elae, except in the early Chinese reports?

Still don't know whats wrong with the neighbor. Day 9 with his fever.

[aristeides]

The chlamydia and the mycoplasma pneumoniae could be secondary infections after something -- something that we have presumed would be the SARS coronavirus -- did a number on the immune systems. But detectable SARS coronavirus in only 3% of the cases is remarkably low. I wonder if the virus goes away as the patient enters the third stage and the immune system overreacts. I suppose it's possible that the immune overreaction succeeds in killing the SARS coronavirus but leaves the victim vulnerable to a secondary infection.

[IYAAYAS]

Does that mean less than 3 percent of SARS patients tested positive for the coronavirus thought responsible for SARS but 70 percent are positive for chlamydia?

[aristeides]

Link to Promed Update.