How we can diagnosis a case of influenza?

Influenza, or flu, is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system. It can cause symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. To diagnose influenza, your healthcare provider may do a physical exam, look for symptoms of flu, and possibly order a test that detects influenza viruses. There are different types of tests to diagnose flu, such as:

– Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs), which can detect influenza in under 30 minutes, using swabs or samples of secretions taken from your nose or throat. However, these tests can yield false positive or false negative results, and they may not be able to indicate which specific strain of flu you have.
– Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which can detect and differentiate influenza A and B strains, and sometimes the subtype of influenza A, in healthcare settings within 20 minutes or a lab within a few hours. These tests are more accurate and sensitive than RIDTs, but they require special equipment and trained staff.
– Viral culture tests, which can grow the influenza virus from your respiratory specimen in a lab. These tests can take several days to get the results, but they can provide more information about the virus’s characteristics and origin.