SARS in health care workers
===========================

* Monica Avendano
* Peter Derkach
* Susan Swan

We have continued to follow the patients described in our article1 after their discharge from the SARS unit. They have undergone chest radiography, pulmonary function testing, chest CT, sleep studies and graded exercise tests. By the eighth week after discharge, the results of chest radiography were normal for all patients. However, CT of the chest showed abnormalities in some patients for up to 6 months after discharge. Convalescent serum antibody tests have been performed for all patients, but the results are not yet available. 

Most of the patients have returned to work, the initial group going back 2 months after the onset of acute illness. Fatigue, dyspnea on exertion and insomnia are the most common persisting symptoms. Most of the patients have demonstrated symptoms indicative of the psychological impact of SARS. We are planning a follow-up review for next spring, 1 year after the onset of illness.

**Monica Avendano** **Peter Derkach** **Susan Swan** West Park Healthcare Centre Toronto, Ont.

## Reference

1.  1. Avendano M, Derkach P, Swan S. Clinical course and management of SARS in health care workers in Toronto: a case series. CMAJ 2003; 168 (13):1649-60.
    
    [Abstract/FREE Full Text](http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiQUJTVCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6NDoiY21haiI7czo1OiJyZXNpZCI7czoxMToiMTY4LzEzLzE2NDkiO3M6NDoiYXRvbSI7czoyNDoiL2NtYWovMTY5LzExLzExNDcuMy5hdG9tIjt9czo4OiJmcmFnbWVudCI7czowOiIiO30=)