The clinical diagnosis of influenza.
Effective management of influenza depends on early recognition of influenza in the community and on rapid diagnosis. Early recognition is achieved by integrated clinical and laboratory based surveillance programmes in representative populations. The recent introduction of 'near patient tests' for influenza provide increased opportunities for surveillance but diagnosis remains largely clinically based. The combination of cough and fever in conditons of known local influenza virus circulation provide a useful indicator of diagnosis to guide management.
Fleming
D
D
RCGP Birmingham Research Unit, Harborne, UK. Dfleming@rcgpbhamresunit.nhs.uk
Wood
M
M
D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011322:Primary Prevention; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D006113:United Kingdom