Flu test at home in 10 minutes!

You can now do a flu test at home in just 10 minutes.

Call 210 8060098 for a doctor to visit and collect a small liquid sample from your nose and throat with a special swab.

This quick test distinguishes between the influenza A virus, including the H1N1 strain, and the B virus, with high “specificity” (95%) and “sensitivity” (84.4%). EOF, CE, and the US FDA certify its reliability.

The test helps us distinguish the flu (which needs special treatment) from the common cold (which is caused by various other viruses and does not need treatment).

The reason we treat influenza is that it often affects people extremely severely, can cause extensive pneumonia in both lungs, and rarely can even cause death in young people. Every year, many people, even young people, die from the flu. Typical is the 1918 flu pandemic that claimed the lives of more than 18 million people worldwide.

How does the flu manifest itself?

Influenza often follows an uncomplicated course, varying from a mild virus to a severe one with high fever, usually resolving within 2-4 days.

However, it can sometimes lead to serious complications. The most severe is pneumonia. It can also worsen conditions like asthma, chronic bronchitis, heart failure, and diabetes mellitus.

High-risk individuals include those over 60, people with asthma, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, pregnant women, those with weakened immune systems, organ transplant recipients, kidney disease patients, and those with neurological, neuromuscular, or sickle cell diseases.

Complications and high-risk individuals

Influenza usually has a smooth course without complications, ranging from a simple virus with ten to a severe virus with high fever and passes in 2-4 days.

But sometimes it presents complications, the most serious of which is pneumonia. Other complications are exacerbation of asthma or chronic bronchitis, worsening of heart failure or diabetes mellitus.

People at high risk are those older than 60 years, sufferers of asthma, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obese, pregnant, immunosuppressed, transplant recipients, kidney patients, sufferers of neurological and neuromuscular diseases and sickle cell disease.

Vaccinations

Vaccination is the only effective way to prevent the flu. Everyone, especially those in high-risk groups, health professionals, teachers, soldiers, and those working with vulnerable groups like medical staff and nursing home workers, should get vaccinated annually, ideally in October or November. The body builds peak immunity against the influenza virus two weeks after vaccination.

Can someone who has had the vaccine get sick?

Can vaccinated people still get sick? Yes, the vaccine’s effectiveness ranges from 70% to 90%, so 10-30% of vaccinated individuals might still catch the flu. However, vaccinated people who do get sick usually experience a milder illness, reducing the need for hospital admission.

Treatment

Regarding treatment, the influenza virus relies on two proteins, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, for attaching to and invading host cells. Oseltamivir, a drug available on the market, inhibits neuraminidase. This stops the virus’s life cycle, making the illness shorter, milder, and less likely to cause complications. It’s crucial to diagnose and start treatment within the first 24 to 48 hours for maximum effectiveness.

Antibiotics play no role in treating the flu or common cold, as they prevent microbes from forming a protective wall. Since viruses don’t form such walls, antibiotics are ineffective against them. Doctors only prescribe antibiotics when they confirm or suspect a bacterial complication.

For flu and severe common cold cases, doctors often prescribe antipyretics, typically 1000 mg of paracetamol for adults, taken 2-4 times daily. It’s advisable to steer clear of lower-dose paracetamol (300 mg) formulas that include vasoactive substances for nasal decongestion, unless these symptoms are especially troubling. In such cases, taking one of these tablets at night can help sleep more comfortably.

In rare instances, anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors might be necessary.

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