The Glade 4.0

So, my gf was in Mexico for a few days last week, and shortly after she came back, she started having cold/flu symptoms - fever, sore throat, cough, fatigue, general feeling of malaise, etc. (but no body aches). Now I've got the fever and cough, plus, ummm, intestinal issues of the "Do NOT go in there! Whooo!" variety.

Gf is starting to feel better, and I'm not feeling all that bad, really. Any reason we should get tested for H1N1? I know there's no benefit from a treatment perspective, but for public health tracking or something?

I wouldn't think so. We (Phe and I) didn't. Rest, OTC meds, rest, more rest, and good as new. Actually much milder than the real flu (at least it was much milder than it was when I had the real flu several years ago). No sense in wasting the money on a doc visit unless it turns serious, but to be honest that's as much a cultural response as a personal one. We don't really like going to the doctor unless it's something really necessary, like being at death's door or having the bone sticking *through* the skin. *shrug*

From what I understand, Swine Flu is MUCH worse than normal flu. So unless it's way more than any flu you've had before, you're probably fine.

If you have specific questions like this, you can always go to http://www.flu.gov to find answers. I could not find an immediate exact match, but there is an "ask a flu expert" section here:

http://www.flu.gov/ask.html


I suspect that the answer is, no, you should not go to be tested even for tracking / outbreak purposes.

I will try to explain my reasoning:

1. We already know that H1N1 is already wide spread and prolific, so adding one more point of data provides little information, so there is little epidemiologic reason for testing.

2. You are not seriously ill, nor have indicated pre-existing conditions that would be a cause for concern if you had the flu (H1N1 or seasonal), so there is little medical reason for testing.

3. The only way to confirm H1N1 is through real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR also just called PCR). This requires time and trained personnel to perform the tests. In addition, there are limited facilities that can perform PCR tests (it requires special equipment, specially trained personnel and requires the lab to pass a vigorous inspection and accreditation process). Because of all this, the test is costly and time consuming, and these resources are typically reserved for special cases (where knowing for certain as soon as possible may be critical to patient treatment options) and there for there is little practical reason for testing and definitive economical reasons for not being tested.



If you do send a note, I'd like to see the response, to see how I faired against the experts. =)

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Gorse