FLU DIAGNOSIS

A number of different laboratory diagnostic tests called rapid influenza. Diagnostic tests (Riots) can be used for detecting the presence of influenza viruses in respiratory specimens. these includes direct viral antigen detection tests and virus isolation in cell culture but these may not be specific to detect human infection with a new influenza .a(h1n1)virus or may not yield timely results for clinical management. The recommended test for confirmation of cases is a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) which detects influenza-specific RNA.
For confirming a case of novel influenza a (H1N1) virus infection, a sample of nasopharyngeal swab or nasal aspirate needs to be collected, using sterile synthetic tip with plastic shaft, as soon a possible after illness onset. For transporting these specimens to the laboratory, they must be taken in sterile viral transport media and placed on ice/cold packs or refrigerated. However, various factors may contribute to a lowered sensitivity for laboratory tests to detect novel influenza a (H1N1) virus in the samples. These include type of respiratory specimen (nasal 0or nasopharyngeal swab) , quantity of the specimen time from illness onset to specimen collection ,age ,of the patient ,time from specimen collection to testing ,and the storage and processing of the specimen prior to testing.

Vaccines of swine flu and its side effect

As the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is a new virus, no swine flu vaccine was immediately available to prevent infections.
And unfortunately, the seasonal flu vaccine that many of us receive will not provide any protection against the swine flu virus.
A vaccine has been developed, tested, and now FDA approved and an increasing supply of doses are arriving at doctor's office and clinics to help prevent infections from the 2009 H1N1 strain of the flu.
Swine Flu Vaccine
CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that swine flu vaccine should first go to:
· Pregnant women
· Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
· Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
· All children and young adults from 6 months through 24 years of age, and
· Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza
Next, as swine flu vaccine improves to the point that all priority groups have gotten vaccinated, everyone from the ages of 25 through 64 years will get vaccinated too. Lastly, people 65 or older, who have the least risk from the swine flu, will be offered the swine flu vaccine.
It is possible to get both a seasonal flu vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine at the same time, unless they are both the nasal spray version of the flu vaccine. Instead, kids can get one as a nasal spray and one as a flu shot, or both as flu shots.
And as expected, kids who are nine years old and under need two doses of the 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine separated by at least four weeks to get full protection against the swine flu. Older children, like adults, need just one dose.
Local Side Effects from Approved H1N1 Vaccines
No deaths or serious adverse events have been reported from any swine flu vaccine. Approximately 44% of participants reported mild side effects within 7 days of receiving the first dose of CSL’s swine flu vaccine. 2.5% of vaccine recipients reported moderate local side effects, and there were no severe adverse events reported after immunization. 86% of the volunteers that received Novartis’s H1N1 vaccine reported adverse reactions after one or both doses – the most common local side effect experienced was injection site pain. The reactions were generally mild or moderate and resolved after 72 hours. Reported local adverse events, or side effects occurring at the location where either vaccine had been administered, include the following:
· Tenderness
· Pain
· Redness
· Hardening of skin
· Swelling
· Bruising
Common Systemic Side Effects from Swine Flu Vaccines
Systemic effects were also reported by CSL and Novartis vaccine recipients. Approximately 36% of volunteers that received the swine flu vaccine manufactured by CSL experienced mild systemic side effects. 8% of vaccine recipients reported moderate systemic side effects, and less than 1% experienced a severe adverse reaction to immunization. Severe side effects reported include, malaise, muscle pain, and nausea. Muscle aches were the most common systemic side effect reported by participants receiving the H1N1 vaccine produced by Novartis, and no severe systemic side effects were reported. The following are common whole-body side effects occurring in response to either H1N1 vaccination.
· Headache
· Malaise (feeling out-of-sorts)
· Muscle pain
· Chills
· Nausea
· Fever
· Vomiting
In addition, researchers evaluated the occurrence of select adverse events including neurologic (e.g. Guillain-Barre syndrome), immune system or other serious reactions. According to the studies, none of the enrolled participants experienced these select events.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has also recently released preliminary safety information for an additional swine flu vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur Inc. Approximately 96% of healthy adults showed a robust immune response after receiving the vaccine. The only adverse events reported by trial participants were pain and redness at the injection site.

Keeping Away Swine Influenza

If you feel unwell, have high fever, cough and/ or sore throat:
-stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds as much as possible.
-Rest and take plenty of fluids.To protect yourself from swine influenza practice general preventive measure:
2. Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough.
3. Wash your hands with soaps and water frequently and thoroughly.
4. Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.
If there is an ill person at home:
5. Try to provide the ill person a separate section in the house. If this is not possible, keep the patient at least 1 meter away from others.
6. Cover mouth and nose when caring for the ill person. Masks can be brought commercially or made using readily available materials as long as they are disposed of or cleaned properly.
7. Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly after each contact with the ill person.
8. Try to improve the air flow in the area where the ill person stays. Use doors and windows to take advantage of breezes.
9. Keep the environment clean with readily available household cleaning agents. If you are living in a country where swine influenza has caused disease in humans, follow additional advice from national and local health authorities
-Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when coughing and sneezing and dispose of the used tissues properly.
-Inform family and friends about your illness and seek help for household chores that requires contact with other such as shopping.
If you need medical attention:
10. Contact your doctor or healthcare provider before traveling to see them and report your symptoms.
11. Explain why you think you have swine influenza (for example, if you have recently traveled to a country where there is a swine influenza outbreak in humans.)