Table 1.

Inclusion (WHO criteria⁹) and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

Suspect case

A person presenting with history of high fever (>38°C) AND cough or breathing difficulty

And one or more of the following exposures during the 10 days prior to onset of symptoms:

- close contact with a person who is a suspect or probable case of SARS;

- history of travel to an area with recent local transmission of SARS

- residing in an area with recent local transmission of SARS

Probable case

(i) A suspect case with radiographic evidence of infiltrates consistent with pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) on chest X-ray (CXR).

(ii) A suspect case of SARS that is positive for SARS coronavirus by one or more assays.

Exclusion criteria

At the time of entry into the study, a case should be excluded:

(I) If an alternative diagnosis can fully explain the illness.

(II) Age <18 and >55 years

(III) More than 10 days from the date of onset of fever, on endotrachea tube, or in severe conditions with other multiple medical problems.

(IV) GOT, GPT > 100 U/l, serum creatinine >2.5 mg/dl

(V) Breastfeeding or pregnant women.

(VI) Taken any Chinese herbs in the last 3 months

(VII) Any other conditions not suitable for trial as evaluated by the physician on duty.