LAnd Christmas holidays they are always moments for gatherings with family and closest friends, but they also represent aexcellent opportunity for contagion. In fact, thanks to the habits of these periods, many Italians find themselves in bed with fever, respiratory and flu symptoms.
Swabs and self-diagnostic tests, the answers
Many people resort to the use of self-diagnostic tests to identify the virus that may have affected them. For some this may mean access to specific and targeted antiviral therapies, for others it may represent the answer to a curiosity. Now let’s see the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the use of covid tests and the most popular self-diagnostic tests.
1. When to take the covid test?
It depends, if you have had contact with a positive (or symptomatic) person or you have been in very crowded places and therefore at high risk, it is advisable wait 3 days and then take the test. However, if you have symptoms, you can do it immediately. If you plan to see fragile subjects, it is advisable to carry out the test immediately before seeing them (and out of an abundance of caution, there’s no harm in wearing one maskespecially in these periods).
2. Is the nasal or salivary test worth it?
THE Nasal tests (https://amzlink.to/az0WJRjyQ3SzN)* they have the advantage of giving fewer false negatives (i.e. swabs that test negative in people who are actually positive). However, they are more invasive and uncomfortable than salivary tests (https://amzlink.to/az0p8VoK5MWOS)* which have an additional advantage: they manage to detect the early stages of infection more easily since from omicron onwards the virus began to replicate more in the throat in the initial stages of infection.
3. Is there a test to evaluate flu and covid at the same time?
Yes, few know that they exist ii combo tests (https://amzlink.to/az0OpWF7fdu4z)* That with just one swab they can test for Covid, influenza A and influenza B. They can be very useful during this time.
There are also tests that allow you to detect the presence of other common pathogens such as Streptococcus A (https://amzlink.to/az0b7S37lj5UH)*a known bacterium associated with scarlet fever, tonsillitis and ear infections.
Self test: not just swabs
Having self tests at home can help us feel calmer (you know they exist many other self tests that can be done at home? I created a list of self-diagnostic tests in my Amazon storefront https://amzlink.to/az0X1Z8ThyEVy)* and sometimes the results can be of support our doctor to direct him in treatment. However, it is good to use them conscientiously, remembering that there may be false negatives and so in the presence of symptoms, even with a negative swab, it would be advisable not to have contact with other people, especially if at risk and do not rely on self-therapy but always consult your doctor.
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