Strep, Mono & Flu Testing
Testing for the Flu
Influenza, or the flu, is a highly contagious virus that can cause symptoms for a week or more. Those symptoms often include fever and chills, a sore throat, body aches, and general malaise. The fatigue is usually what spurs patients to get testing done for the flu, as it is often bad enough that one’s day-to-day life is affected.
A rapid flu test in Los Angeles will be able to detect whether what you’re experiencing is coming from the influenza virus. Flu tests will also identify the type of flu if the virus is present.
To get tested for the flu, a swab is taken from the nose or the mouth. Time and rest will allow your body to recover from the flu, as there are no antibiotics to treat it. Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used for aches and pains. Severe cases may require antiviral drugs, something you can discuss with your healthcare provider. Those same healthcare providers will have flu vaccines on hand throughout flu season, which peaks in the winter and spring months.
An annual flu shot could prevent you from getting the flu next time around. Schedule your flu vaccine below.
Testing for Strep
Streptococcus, or strep, is a bacterial infection that is highly contagious. Getting you on the path to feeling better requires a series of antibiotics.
A strep throat test in Los Angeles is the only way to know whether that severe sore throat you’re feeling is strep. A rapid strep test can detect whether you have strep throat within minutes. The test involves a swab of your throat and tonsils, the two areas most affected by strep.
Left untreated, strep can cause serious complications down the line. On top of difficulty swallowing and a high fever that often comes with strep, strep can cause kidney inflammation and cardiovascular damage. Most with strep make a full, speedy recovery after a week on antibiotics. Proper treatment also cuts down the length of time you are contagious with strep.
Typically, you are no longer considered contagious after 24 hours on the antibiotic you’ll be given.
Testing for Mono
Mononucleosis, or mono, is a viral infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). While it’s most often seen in children and teenagers, anyone can get mono, as it is contagious.
Mono blood testing in Los Angeles is used to test for antibodies that would show a previous mono-infection. Doctors can also look at your blood counts to look for markers that would indicate active infection.
Unfortunately, mono can last for weeks. Fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes and tonsils can all be treated following a mono diagnosis, but many patients report fatigue and headaches well after most other symptoms disappear. A swollen spleen is another classic symptom of mono. Treatment for mono is focused on rest and allowing your body to heal with plenty of fluids. There are no antibiotics available to treat the infection, so you’ll need to allow mono to run its course.
An accurate diagnosis is still important to rule out infections that may be treatable with a round of medication. Some patients get other illnesses on top of mono, such as strep or tonsillitis.
