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Usually you (and health care professionals) go by your symptoms and by the known Infectious Diseases in the community at the time. If it is flu season and you have symptoms of the flu, it is likely that is the problem. Since the flu is treated the same, regardless of the specific type of flu, it is usually treated empirically as if you have the flu and additional work up is only done if the course of the disease is abnormal for the flu or unexpected complications arise.
Sometimes lab testing can be done, but for viruses, like those that cause the flu, there are no specific tests to identify a specific organism that are easily done. That usually takes a lot of time and these tests are only done in specific esoteric labs, and are often not insignificantly priced. There are quick tests that can be done, that will identify if flu viruses are present, but they are usually not needed.
See the related question below for information about the symptoms of the flu.
What else can I help you with?
Can you get the flu from the vacine?
No, you cannot get the flu from the swine flu vaccine. What the H1N1 vaccine does is inject dead or weakened flu germs. That way if you do get the flu, your body will know what to do. But you can't get the flu from the vaccine.
How do you know if you have had Swine Flu?
Unless you were tested when you were ill, there is really no way to know for sure which type of flu you may have had. If you were not tested at the time, to be sure you have immunity to the swine flu, it is advised that you get a vaccination. It will not hurt you if you already had the same flu, and it can prevent another illness if the flu you had was a different strain. For best protection from the flu during the 2009-2010 flu season, get both a swine flu vaccination and a seasonal flu vaccination.
How you know if you have the Swine Flu or not?
The only way to know for sure that it is the H1N1/09 (swine flu) is to have lab testing. Otherwise you can only tell by symptoms which are virtually the same as regular flu. See the related question for information about the symptoms of swine flu.
Would it be worth getting flu shot although you have had the flu?
Yes, because the flu changes from year to year and if you don't know if the flu you had was this years or last, why take the risk. Get one every year.
How many symptoms do you need to know its swine flu?
head aches, vomiting, FEVER,... its just a regular flu
Why are viruses infamous and deadly on earth?
HIV is one of them. Some strains of Flu, like Bird Flu and Spanish Flu. And...uhh... I dont know anymore. =S
Why is isolating patients with bird flu an effective first line of defence?
i dont know... i need the answer for my bird flu assignment!
If you have just received the seasonal flu shot and then exposed to Swine Flu are you more compromised to contract the virus?
I don't know what your trying to say but i heard in the news that if you receive the seasonal flu shot,your more likely to get the swine flu.
The Swine Flu is a hoax?
na it's not. i know cause i had it
How will you know if the flu vaccine is expired?
Expiration date on the vial.
How do you know if you have stomach flu?
When your stomach hurts so much.
How many Swine Flu masks have been made?
check the site below to know all about swine flu http://markthispage.blogspot.com/2009/06/all-you-want-to-know-about-swine-flu.html
