Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis

Christian Hoffmann, Bernd Sebastian Kamps

There is no single test that can be used to diagnose SARS with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Diagnosis, therefore, continues to rely on the clinical examination, supported by case definitions that include a travel history. The initial symptoms of SARS are non-specific, complicating the differential diagnosis. Some features of the history, physical examination, radiological and laboratory findings, however, should alert clinicians to the possible diagnosis of SARS, even when the contact history is unreliable. These features are described below.