Sintchenko V, Dwyer D E
Centre for Infectious Diseases, Westmead Hospital, Sydney.
Aust Fam Physician. 1999 Apr;28(4):313-7.
Disease resulting from influenza virus infection ranges from mild respiratory illness to fatal pneumonia. Influenza is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world, and there are annual epidemics in Australia in late autumn and winter.
This article examines the latest diagnostic tests and treatment available for influenza.
In addition to traditional viral culture or antigen detection assays, office based techniques for rapid diagnosis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection and typing of influenza viruses have been developed recently. The combination of sensitive and more rapid tissue culture systems, PCR and office based rapid techniques provide the possibility of verifying the clinical diagnosis of influenza and improving the quality of surveillance systems. Accurate diagnosis is essential for the appropriate use of new antivirals to control influenza infection.
