(NAPSA)—Flu season is here. Every year, as many as 40 percent we of children will become infected with influenza, leaving parents wondering whatto do if their children becomeill and howto pre- vent the disease from infecting the entire family. Influenza is a contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory tract and has a variety of symptoms, including muscle aches, fever, headache and sore throat. Because children can pass around the flu for more than a week, it is vital that the virus be diagnosed quickly. Healthcare professionals recommend that a child see their pediatrician for testing and treatment at the onset of symptoms. Many parents will press their pediatricians for antibiotics, but it ie A diagnostic test for influenza can provide results in 10 minutes or less. way to determine the cause of the fever at the bedside, unnecessary antibiotic use will be reduced. The rapid flu test performed at the bedside can provide just the answers that are needed to make informed decisions.” The most widely used rapid test is important to rememberthat, among physiciansis the QuickVue otics are prescribed every year, painless test that can detect the presence of the influenza virus. although tens of millions of antibi- antibiotics are powerless against viral infections. In fact, the overuse of antibiotics in children can result in harm by increasing the child’s risk of developing antibiotic resistance—a growing concern amongpediatricians. According to Dr. Kathryn Ed- wards, Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University and an expert in pediatric infectious dis- ease, “Whenfaced with a child with a high fever, the physician is often tempted to treat with antibiotics to cover the possibility of a bacterial infection. This leads to the overuse of antibiotics and the subsequent developmentof resistance to antibi- otics. If the doctor has an effective Influenza A+B test, a fast and The test is simple, requiring just a nasal swab, and can provide results in 10 minutes or less. One study showed that these tests can reduce, by 28 percent, incorrect flu diagnoses made byclinicians based on symptomsalone. Once flu is detected, physicians can prescribe antiviral drugs—a more appropriate treatment option in place of antibiotics. Furthermore, parents get peace of mind knowing that their children are receiving the most appropriate treatment option available. For more information, visit www.flu test.com or ask your physician about flu testing.
