Laboratory diagnosis of coronavirus-induced colds is rarely required, but ELISA, immunofluorescence, and reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) assays can detect the virus in clinical specimens.
- The coronavirus associated with SARS (SARS-CoV) and MERS-CoV can be detected by RT-PCR or viral culture of respiratory samples.
Treatment: Coronaviruses - For the common cold, no treatment beyond symptom relief is generally needed.
- For SARS and MERS, aggressive supportive care is most important. No specific therapy (e.g., with ribavirin, glucocorticoids) has been established as efficacious.
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