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Most doctors do not test for the flu because it is too expensive.
They just guess you have it by your symptoms.
Your daughter's symptoms as you describe are very mild, low temp. Why do you assume she has the flu?
That's what I thought, what flu test? I have NOT had flu very much at all, but I can recall for me a lot of body aches, unlike my normal arthritis aches. For me if I "think" I have the flu I work with my body as if I do. But thank goodness I've been very healthy as far as flu, any kind.
Last edited by jaminhealth; 01-21-2018 at 06:05 PM..
Most doctors do not test for the flu because it is too expensive.
They just guess you have it by your symptoms.
Your daughter's symptoms as you describe are very mild, low temp. Why do you assume she has the flu?
I can't speak for "most doctors" but I can speak for the ones I worked for, 5 pediatricians. We tested most everyone who had the symptoms. There are quick tests you can do in the office. Here's a nice article about flu/flu tests: https://www.verywell.com/how-is-the-...agnosed-770483
The rapid tests are not accurate. Do some reading on their false-negs an false-pos, and how and why and when they occur. I would never rely on a rapid flu test to be an indicator of anything. According to the CDC, a rapid flu test isn't necessary because doctors base the diagnosis on symptoms.
There's a reason they all *have been positive* and I would guess the majority of people who tested positive did NOT have the flu. As far as expensive, to do a lab test, yes it is expensive, because lab testing (ELISA) is accurate.
And an HMO paying for something is no indication of whether something is appropriate or beneficial. They pay -- and don't pay -- for lots of different things that may -- or may not -- benefit individual patients.
As far as interfering with a flu test, I'm not sure however, Tamiflu is not like an antibiotic; it doesn't kill the flu virus, just keeps it from replicating. My answer? I don't know.
Yes, good point. S/he might even meet you at the office to run a flu test, or recommend you go to an ER for it.
Poor advice. Vomiting and diarrhea are not usually symptoms of flu, though sometimes are present in kids and with H1N1. Even then, they're not the main symptoms. Flu is respiratory. The OP doesn't say how old her child is. Younger kids, particularly kids under 5 and especially kids under two are more prone to complications, and more likely to need Tamiflu. OTOH, it sounds like this child is older as she would use the same dose of Tamiflu as the mom. Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2017
Yes you can have flu with or without diarrhea and vomiting. Not being able to keep food and fluids down leads to dehydration, and that can be dangerous. I'm a retired respiratory therapist and I can't tell you how many kids I treated in the ER with just colds. A low grade fever without the other symptoms I described is not reason enough to go to the doctor. If you have yellow secretions and a high fever, then yes, go to the doctor.
The rapid tests are not accurate. Do some reading on their false-negs an false-pos, and how and why and when they occur. I would never rely on a rapid flu test to be an indicator of anything. According to the CDC, a rapid flu test isn't necessary because doctors base the diagnosis on symptoms.
There's a reason they all *have been positive* and I would guess the majority of people who tested positive did NOT have the flu. As far as expensive, to do a lab test, yes it is expensive, because lab testing (ELISA) is accurate.
And an HMO paying for something is no indication of whether something is appropriate or beneficial. They pay -- and don't pay -- for lots of different things that may -- or may not -- benefit individual patients.
False positive and false negative rates depend on how prevalent the disease is. If there is a lot of flu circulating then the test is more likely to be a true positive.
The CDC does not say that testing is not necessary at all.
"When Is Use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests Beneficial?
Testing during an outbreak of acute respiratory disease can determine if influenza is the cause and to guide prompt implementation of prevention and control measures.
During influenza season, testing of selected patients presenting with acute respiratory illnesses compatible with influenza can help establish whether influenza is present in a specific patient population and help health-care providers determine how to use their clinical judgment for diagnosing and treating respiratory illness. (Testing need not be done for all patients.)"
ELISA tests look for antibodies, not viral antigens. The more specific test for the virus would be reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Yes, it would be more expensive and take more time to get results.
Yes you can have flu with or without diarrhea and vomiting. Not being able to keep food and fluids down leads to dehydration, and that can be dangerous. I'm a retired respiratory therapist and I can't tell you how many kids I treated in the ER with just colds. A low grade fever without the other symptoms I described is not reason enough to go to the doctor. If you have yellow secretions and a high fever, then yes, go to the doctor.
Adults usually do not have vomiting and diarrhea with flu, and the fever may not be high. The color of nasal secretions has no diagnostic value. A yellow or green tint just reflects the presence of white blood cells.
My question is why test for the flu? Does it change anything if the disease has progressed somewhat and the magic time for Tamilflu is pretty much over?
I am getting over it with the help of a thermometer to track of temperature and an oximeter to track oxygen utilization. I knew if my temp spiked over 102 and/or if my oxygen use was 85% or less to get to a hospital/urgent care. Never got quite that bad and I am on the upswing. Temp is now normal and oxygen is up to 96%. But it was a very hard week.
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