Pneumonia - Causes

(Page 5)

Prognosis. The overall worldwide death rate from SARS at the end of the outbreaks was 14 - 15%, although it was up to 50% in infected people over age 65. Many more were sick enough to require breathing assistance from a machine (mechanical ventilation). Others needed to be treated in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Today, intensive public health policies are proving to be effective in controlling outbreaks. Many nations have stopped the epidemic within their own countries. All nations must be vigilant, however, to keep this disease under control.

Complications. Complications from pneumonia can include:

• Heart failure
• Liver failure
• Myelodysplastic syndromes (bone marrow abnormalities leading to anemia, low platelet counts, and low white blood cell counts)
• Respiratory failure

Review Date: 04/13/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

---

---