How do you know for sure if you have the flu? Let's talk about the Flu Test!

These days, everyone is talking about the flu, right? Many people are afraid of this disease that comes with body aches, headaches, coughs, and colds. So when you have symptoms like these, you may be wondering, "Is this a common cold, or is it the flu that everyone is talking about?" Usually, especially during a flu pandemic, a doctor can guess that it is the flu based on your symptoms. However, to make sure that it is a condition caused by the influenza virus itself or another health problem, your doctor may ask you to do a quick test. Let's talk about this Flu Test today.

Why do this flu test?

There are several main advantages to doing this test.

The first and most important thing is to be able to start the right treatment as soon as possible. Imagine that your doctor has confirmed that you have the flu with this test. If so, he or she can start you on antiviral medications right away. These medications are most effective if they are given within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. If given that way, they can relieve your symptoms and shorten the duration of your illness by about a day. But after two days, these medications don't really help. So you can see how important early diagnosis is, right?

How is this test done?

This is very simple and painless. You have no reason to be afraid.

Your doctor will use a long stick, similar to a cotton swab we have at home, but a little longer. We call this a swab . Using this, he will take a very fine scrape from the inside of your nose or the back of your throat to get a sample of mucus. He will then carefully place it in a sealed packet and test it in a lab on site or send it to another lab.

How long does it take for the results to come?

Most of the time, this is a rapid test . This means that if you do the test in your doctor's office, you can get the results in as little as 15 to 20 minutes . Sometimes, if the sample is sent to another lab, it can take a few hours or a day for the results to come back.

What does this test look for and are there any types of tests?

Simply put, this test checks for the presence of the influenza virus in your body. There are also two main types of viruses.

• Influenza A
• Influenza B

Some advanced tests can even help you identify exactly which of these two types you have.

You may be wondering, "Are all flu tests the same?" Not really. The quality of this test, that is, how accurate it is, depends on several factors.

• The company that made the test kit and its technology.
• How the test works.
• The amount of virus in the sample the doctor takes.

But you don't need to worry about it. Your doctor will recommend the most appropriate and reliable test for you.

Let's understand this more simply from the table below.

When should you definitely see a doctor?

A mild case of flu in a healthy young person may be cured by getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids , and taking medications such as paracetamol. However, you should definitely see a doctor in the following cases :

• If you belong to a risk group:
• Young children (especially those under 5 years old)
• People over 65 years of age
• Pregnant mothers
• People with diabetes , heart disease, asthma , or other chronic diseases .
• If you have severe symptoms:
• Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing.
• If you have chest pain or a feeling of tightness in your chest.
• Sudden confusion or dizziness.
• Severe vomiting that cannot be stopped.
• High fever not controlled by paracetamol.