MONDAY, Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Rapid distinguishing influenza tests provide an accurate diagnosis, and their exercise during flu season could lead to earlier usage for patients and help prevent the disseminate of the illness, two new studies prompt.

The 2012 flu season is suitable beginning and, despite the late dislocate, is expected to sicken up to 5 very great number people worldwide, experts say. Most patients order recover, but up to 500,000 be disposed die, with the youngest and oldest patients greatest number vulnerable.

The two studies, published online in the Feb. 28 issue of the newspaper Annals of Internal Medicine, highlight the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Viral cultures are correct in diagnosing flu but can take up to 10 days to stipulate results. Newer reverse transcriptase-polymerase enslave reaction (RT-PCR) tests provide results much sooner but are expensive and make necessary specialized equipment.

Rapid influenza diagnostic tests, which are inexpensive and easy to conversion to an act in a doctor's office, are a different option, but little was known near to their accuracy.

In one study, researchers reviewed 159 published articles and rest that rapid influenza diagnostic tests accurately diagnose flu, but are less accurate at ruling it confused. This means that patients with a negative conclusion would require follow-up testing with a viral culture or RT-PCR, the researchers reported in a journal news release.

They said their results suggest that rapid distinguishing tests would be useful in clinical habit, especially when treating children and other patients at jeopardize for flu-related complications. This includes the many the crowd over 65, pregnant women and those through chronic health conditions such as asthma.

For patients diagnosed with flu, doctors may decide to begin treatment with antiviral drugs.

In the back study, researchers reviewed 74 published studies and cast that early treatment with antiviral drugs (in the compass of 48 hours) may confer more benefits than later method of treating.

The researchers tested four commonly prescribed antivirals, and said oral oseltamivir and inhaled zanamivir appeared to curtail duration of flu symptoms compared to ~t any treatment.

More information

The U.S. Centers according to Disease Control and Prevention has in greater numbers about seasonal flu.

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