Diagnosis | Influenza

Diagnosis

In the foreground of the diagnosis of the disease with the influenza virus is the doctor-patient conversation in the context of the medical history of the sick person. It is particularly important to ask the patient’s immune status, since the doctor can assess the individual risk of the disease. Thus, persons with a weakened immune system have a much higher risk of complications during the course of influenza.

The symptoms, possible previous illnesses, allergies, medications, and individual living habits are also asked during this consultation. A further important step in the diagnosis is the physical examination. Especially if there is a suspicion of an influenza virus, the so-called auscultation of the affected person is used.

In this procedure, the doctor listens to the lungs with a stethoscope. Certain noises, which arise from inhaling or exhaling, can be an indication of the illness with an influenza virus for the attending physician.Palpation, i.e. palpation of the abdominal organs, can also give an indication of the situation of the patient. In this way, the situation of the gastrointestinal tract in particular can be assessed.

Since these tests confirm the suspicion of an illness with the influenza virus, but cannot confirm 100%, a smear of the mucous membranes can be taken to confirm the presence of the virus. A cotton swab is taken from the nasal or oral mucosa and the material is sent to a laboratory for diagnosis. In the event of an influenza virus infection, the DNA of the virus in the sample will be detected and the diagnosis confirmed with certainty.

Alternatively, the blood of the affected person can be used to make the diagnosis. Especially after 7 days after the outbreak of influenza, a sufficient amount of antibodies can be detected in the blood, which are specific for the presence of the disease and the detection of these antibodies thus confirms the disease. Another parameter that can confirm the suspicion of an influenza virus infection is the so-called blood sedimentation rate (BSG or BSR).

This value indicates how much time passes until the cellular components of the blood have separated to a large extent from the non-cellular components of the blood. However, a positive result, i.e. when this speed is increased, can also indicate the presence of other diseases, which is why this method is not very selective in proving the presence of an influenza disease. Much better and more sensitive are a number of rapid tests which, if positive, can detect the influenza virus with a high degree of certainty.

These rapid tests are particularly popular when the diagnosis based on laboratory results would take too long to start a therapy. The principle of these tests is based on an antibody-antigen reaction. It is important to note that the performance of these tests is currently not covered by the statutory health insurance companies.

Depending on the risk profile, the therapy of the diseased person is carried out individually. This means that a person with a weak immune system should be recommended a different therapy than a person whose own immune system is probably strong enough to control the disease itself. Since in the worst case the disease can even lead to death in immunocompromised persons, it is important to start the therapy of the disease early.

Persons who fall into this group receive an antiviral therapy, whereas persons with a competent immune system receive a so-called symptomatic therapy, which does not treat the cause of the disease, but the unpleasant symptoms associated with it. Antiviral therapy: Antiviral therapy directly fights the viruses responsible for influenza. Depending on when the therapy with these drugs is started, the duration of the disease can be significantly shortened by using them.

This treatment is important in immunocompromised patients, as it has been shown that early initiation of antiviral therapy has significantly reduced the number of dangerous complications in patients with influenza viruses and a weakened immune system. There are two different drugs that can be considered for antiviral therapy in patients with influenza viruses. On the one hand, there are drugs on the market that inhibit a specific membrane protein that is important for the survival of the virus, as well as the more frequently used so-called neuraminidase inhibitors.

The neuraminidase inhibitors, as the name suggests, inhibit the so-called neuraminidase. By inhibiting this enzyme, the virus can no longer detach itself from the host cell and the spread of the virus in the body is thus effectively prevented. Both available drugs prevent the spread and reproduction of the viruses, which is why they are also called antivirals.

The “killing” of the virus cells, which are already in the body, must be done by the own immune system. Nevertheless, if the therapy is started early enough, these drugs provide helpful support for the immune system and can prevent dangerous situations for immunocompromised patients.However, experts do not consider it advisable to start therapy 48 hours after the first symptoms appear, because after this time there are too many active viruses in the body that cannot be killed by the available drugs. Symptomatic therapy: The symptomatic therapy is mainly used for affected persons who are affected by the disease but otherwise do not show any weakening of the immune system.

Symptomatic therapy is intended to alleviate the symptoms that usually accompany the disease. In contrast to antiviral therapy, symptomatic therapy includes a number of different drug options, which have a different effect profile depending on the symptoms. For example, painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can be given for headaches and aching limbs, which are also of primary importance in the treatment of fever attacks.

However, the dose of the medication to be taken should always be discussed with the doctor treating the patient so that an overdose can be prevented. It is important to know that drugs containing the active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid, such as aspirin, should never be given to children under 12 years of age. The reason for this is the danger of a dangerous complication, the so-called Reye syndrome.

A number of drugs are available for the treatment of symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal tract, which can, for example, treat nausea or diarrhea symptomatically. In addition to drug therapy, it is helpful to provide the body with sufficient fluids and sufficient rest to combat the disease. Other therapy options: Although influenza disease is caused by viruses, in some cases it may be useful to start treatment with an antibiotic.

Since the immune system is somewhat weakened by the fight against influenza, so-called superinfections with bacteria often occur, which can make the symptoms of influenza even worse and worsen the feeling of illness. Thus, in addition to the regular symptoms of influenza, acute bronchitis, bacterial sore throats, pneumonia or even meningitis often occur. In the treatment of these infections, an antibiotic can help the body’s own immune system and accelerate the healing of the disease and prevent the development of dangerous complications.