4 ms·

How is it determined that someone has this new flu, vs. just a standard flu, or something else? Whenever I've had flu like symptoms, it's always been a clinical

How is it determined that someone has this new flu, vs. just a standard flu, or something else? Whenever I've had flu like symptoms, it's always been a clinical diagnosis.

timr 17y ago
They test for the strain of virus itself. That most likely means either an antibody-based test, or a PCR-based test, but I don't know the particular protocol being used. In any case, it's not something that's going to be done in your doctor's office -- or even at your everyday medical testing lab. Probably only a handful of virology centers can do the work.
- menloparkbum 17y ago
  Thanks. I was curious because I've never had an actual test for the flu. However, I have had a PCR test for hepatitis after a bout of food poisoning. My HMO got back to me pretty quick with that test, so I'm guessing whatever lab they use has the necessary gear. Thus, I was curious as to whether or not my HMO could quickly retool its testing center with the right equipment to test for this flu virus. I did a bit more research and it does look like the swine flu test is PCR based. However, it looks like there's only one vendor for this particular test. Indeed it does look like samples must be shipped out to labs which have the right equipment.
inerte 17y ago
I am saying to friends that the swine flu is like the normal one, you have fever, headaches, sore throat, but one week later, you die. And it's plausible description: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/parents.htm http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/parents.htm What I don't know is if the swine flu has stronger symptoms. For example, more headache than you normally had with flu, or coughing more, etc... To me, so far from what I've read, you have a flu, then you're dead. Wish I knew if there was a couple things to look for, that would really raise the alarm. But if the influenza really spreads, like dozens of people here in São Paulo are diagnosed, one sneeze and off I go to the hospital.
- tudorachim 17y ago
  How did you manage to translate "Although rare, severe respiratory illness (pneumonia) and deaths have been reported with flu infections in children" to such a broad, absolute statement like "you have fever, headaches, sore throat, but one week later, you die." Did you even read the page you linked to?
  - deleted 17y ago
    [deleted]
- thatericguy 17y ago
  The issue with the H1N1 virus is that it has been for the most part out of action for the majority of the population and therefore have a generation of people with no resistance to the virus at all. The typical versions of the influenza that has been going around (usually the antigens are in the the flu shots) have similar proteins that we have some level of defense to, but when we encounter (in this case) a new virus that we have no defense, our bodies just go way overboard on the defense response and if not properly treated - basically die of asphyxiation.
  - ars 17y ago
    EVERY single person who gets the flu (any and every flu) at some point in his life gets one they have no resistance/immunity to! There is nothing magical about this one, it's not more infectious, it's doesn't kill more people (at least in the US). It's just a regular flu. Except that normally only a small number of people get sick, and this time a large number of people will get sick. But the individual sicknesses are going to be regular flu. It could mutate to a version that kills (your overboard on defense theory), but right now it's not, and every flu can mutate to a version that kills. The best case scenario is it goes global now, before it has a chance to mutate. Or that it waits till an immunization is available. And since in my opinion it's not going to mutate to a killer version before we manage to make a vaccine (4-6 months) this is going to turn out to be a big nothing!
    - 17y ago

How is it determined that someone has this new flu, vs. just a standard flu, or something else? Whenever I've had flu like symptoms, it's always been a clinical diagnosis.

timr 17y ago

They test for the strain of virus itself. That most likely means either an antibody-based test, or a PCR-based test, but I don't know the particular protocol being used. In any case, it's not something that's going to be done in your doctor's office -- or even at your everyday medical testing lab. Probably only a handful of virology centers can do the work.

menloparkbum 17y ago
Thanks. I was curious because I've never had an actual test for the flu. However, I have had a PCR test for hepatitis after a bout of food poisoning. My HMO got back to me pretty quick with that test, so I'm guessing whatever lab they use has the necessary gear. Thus, I was curious as to whether or not my HMO could quickly retool its testing center with the right equipment to test for this flu virus. I did a bit more research and it does look like the swine flu test is PCR based. However, it looks like there's only one vendor for this particular test. Indeed it does look like samples must be shipped out to labs which have the right equipment.

inerte 17y ago

I am saying to friends that the swine flu is like the normal one, you have fever, headaches, sore throat, but one week later, you die. And it's plausible description: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/parents.htm http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/parents.htm What I don't know is if the swine flu has stronger symptoms. For example, more headache than you normally had with flu, or coughing more, etc... To me, so far from what I've read, you have a flu, then you're dead. Wish I knew if there was a couple things to look for, that would really raise the alarm. But if the influenza really spreads, like dozens of people here in São Paulo are diagnosed, one sneeze and off I go to the hospital.

tudorachim 17y ago
How did you manage to translate "Although rare, severe respiratory illness (pneumonia) and deaths have been reported with flu infections in children" to such a broad, absolute statement like "you have fever, headaches, sore throat, but one week later, you die." Did you even read the page you linked to?
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]
thatericguy 17y ago
The issue with the H1N1 virus is that it has been for the most part out of action for the majority of the population and therefore have a generation of people with no resistance to the virus at all. The typical versions of the influenza that has been going around (usually the antigens are in the the flu shots) have similar proteins that we have some level of defense to, but when we encounter (in this case) a new virus that we have no defense, our bodies just go way overboard on the defense response and if not properly treated - basically die of asphyxiation.
- ars 17y ago
  EVERY single person who gets the flu (any and every flu) at some point in his life gets one they have no resistance/immunity to! There is nothing magical about this one, it's not more infectious, it's doesn't kill more people (at least in the US). It's just a regular flu. Except that normally only a small number of people get sick, and this time a large number of people will get sick. But the individual sicknesses are going to be regular flu. It could mutate to a version that kills (your overboard on defense theory), but right now it's not, and every flu can mutate to a version that kills. The best case scenario is it goes global now, before it has a chance to mutate. Or that it waits till an immunization is available. And since in my opinion it's not going to mutate to a killer version before we manage to make a vaccine (4-6 months) this is going to turn out to be a big nothing!
  - 17y ago