Influenza requires a throat swab test. Tests can be used to determine whether a patient is infected with the flu virus, and then targeted treatment can be given.
Influenza patients will have symptoms of dry cough, and they will also have dry cough symptoms after being infected with the new coronavirus, so throat swab tests should be performed for patients who have been in contact with people infected with the new coronavirus or who have been to the epidemic area. Patients infected with the new coronavirus generally do not need a throat swab test to determine whether they are infected with the new coronavirus.
The throat swab detection process is as follows: the tested person needs to sit facing the sampler, raise his chin, and open his mouth wide. in special equipment.
These tests include reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), viral culture, and immunofluorescence assays. All we require is that a health care provider swipe the inside of your nose or the back of your throat with a swab and then send the swab for testing. Results may take one to several hours.
Accuracy of throat swabs for influenza.
A throat flocked swab for influenza is more accurate, but there are no authoritative experimental statistics for its specific accuracy.
Throat swab testing for influenza is very fast, economical, and simple, but if the throat swab is negative.
It does not mean that there is no Influenza that may be caused by contamination of specimens, improper sampling of specimens, etc.
And comprehensive judgment should be made in combination with clinical symptoms, epidemiological history, and antigen testing.
When taking a throat swab for influenza, insert the swab completely into the throat from the oral cavity, and moderately wipe the bilateral pharyngeal tonsils and posterior pharyngeal wall with the throat wall and the reddened part of the palatine tonsil as the centre. But avoid touching the tongue. Then remove the test strip. Insert the sampled swab into the solution in the sample extraction tube
So that the specimen is dissolved in the solution as much as possible, and the results can be observed within 15 to 20 minutes.
After more than 30 minutes, the displayed results are usually not clinically meaningful.
If there are two red lines or three red lines in the patient, it means that the throat swab test for influenza is positive.
And there are two red lines, which usually means that there is influenza A or B. If it is three red lines, it means that it is a mixed infection of influenza A and B.
If only one red line appears, the throat swab is negative.
If the reaction line does not appear, the test is invalid, and it is recommended to use a new test card to test again.
Is it a cold or the flu? How to distinguish?
1. Influenza: fast and furious,
If you feel like you’ve been hit by a truck, you might have the flu. Symptoms such as sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches, congestion and cough can come on suddenly. Colds are usually less intense and include a runny or stuffy nose. The flu gets better in 2 to 5 days, but you may feel the discomfort for a week or more. Colds come on slowly and last up to 10 days.
2. Fever: Usually means the flu
While some people have a mild fever when they catch a cold, most do not. If you have the flu, your body temperature may reach 38-40°C. The flu tends to be higher in children, and children may also be more likely to develop a fever.
3. Flu: Fatigue can last for weeks
You may start to feel very tired and sore. Fatigue and weakness can last up to 3 weeks, and even longer in older people and people with long-term (chronic) illnesses or weakened immune systems. Colds are self-limiting and you usually get better within a few days, usually 1 week to 10 days.
4. Cold and flu: Both can cause headaches
Like other symptoms caused by a cold, headaches that accompany a cold are still milder than those caused by the flu.
5. Cough: Both colds and flu can cause
Colds and flu are respiratory illnesses that both affect your airways, so both can cause a cough.
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be a complication of the flu. If you have a persistent cough, fever higher than 38°C, chills, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or chest pain, please seek medical attention in time.
6. Earache: Maybe from a cold or the flu
Congestion from either disease can raise the pressure in your ears. This affects the Eustachian tube, where the larynx and middle ear communicate. It may cause dull ear pain, hearing loss, and a “popping” feeling in the ears. These symptoms will disappear as the disease improves.
If other symptoms get better and the earache persists or you experience sudden, intense pain, see your doctor. You may have an ear infection that needs treatment.
7. Colds: Usually starts with a sore throat
These early symptoms tend to last 1 to 2 days, and a runny nose and nasal congestion are also common. A sore throat also accompanies the flu, but if it’s the flu, you may feel tired and have other symptoms right away.
8. Stuffy nose: Could mean a cold
Simple nasal congestion without fever and general tiredness tends to lead to a cold, although many flu sufferers also say they have nasal congestion and sneezing.
Both colds and flu can cause sinus infections. In addition to a thick yellow or green snot, a sinus infection can also cause headaches and pain in the forehead, cheeks, and bridge of the nose. Sudden head movements or strains can make the pain worse.
9. Flu throat swabs can quickly identify the flu
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The quickest way to find out about your illness is to go to the hospital for a checkup.
A nasal or throat swab can usually tell you if you have the flu virus in 30 minutes or less. If a test shows you have the flu and your symptoms started within the past 48 hours, your doctor may recommend antiviral medication to help you recover faster.
10. Influenza: start antiviral drugs as soon as possible
These medications can give you relief and shorten your condition within 1 to 2 days, especially if you start taking them within 2 days of getting sick. Over-the-counter medications can also relieve symptoms such as coughing and congestion. Read labels and directions carefully so you know what the medicines do and how to use them.
11. Colds: Over-the-counter medications can ease symptoms
12. Hand washing is key
Washing your hands is very important to protect yourself and not spread the flu to others. Wash your hands with soap and warm water, preferably the six-step method. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
Wash your face frequently during cold and flu season, especially after coughing, sneezing, or having a runny nose. What if I can’t find a tissue? Face your elbow when sneezing or coughing instead of covering your mouth with your hand.
13. Get vaccinated
There is now a flu vaccine that protects against the flu, and it’s made from a protein from the previous year’s flu cases. It helps your body prepare to recognize and fight when you’re exposed to the virus again. Note: The flu shot won’t give you the flu!
The flu shot is very important for children over 6 months of age, pregnant women, adults 50 years and older, and people with long-term (chronic) illnesses or weakened immune systems.