The United States is seeing a second peak in flu cases this season. After doctor맥스카지노�s office visits for flu dipped early this year, they jumped past the previous season peak at the end of last month, with a 30% test positivity rate 맥스카지노� and there are still months to go.Related video above: Doctors warn of COVID, RSV and flu as kids return to schoolThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have been at least 20 million cases and 11,000 deaths from flu this season. Hospitalizations are rising, too, with an estimated 38,255 hospitalizations from flu last week alone. It맥스카지노�s not the only illness spreading, either: Wastewater testing also shows high levels of the virus that causes COVID-19 across the country 맥스카지노� well above levels seen at the start of winter.However, there are some new tools to help this respiratory virus season: over-the-counter tests that can identify whether an illness is COVID-19 or influenza.The tests are available for purchase at most pharmacies or online and allow patients to learn what may be making them sick without needing to make an appointment at a clinic or wait in line.The tests won맥스카지노�t check for every respiratory virus, but they mark the first time the public can test for flu at home. The tests use self-collected nasal swabs, with results ready within 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the type of test.Several companies have received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and brought combination tests to market. One test, Healgen, has received authorization for marketing outside of emergency use.Most use rapid antigen technology, meaning the test can identify a particular component of the virus and then alert the user that the component is present.Another home test, Pfizer맥스카지노�s Lucira, works through RT-LAMP technology, which detects the genetic material of the virus and amplifies it for identification.What to do if you test positive for fluIf you have symptoms but test negative for flu or COVID-19, you could have a different infection, have tested too early, or could be getting a false positive result. CDC guidance says to take added precautions and call a health provider for care.Experts say people who test positive for COVID-19 or flu should isolate themselves as much as possible to protect loved ones and get in contact with their doctor, especially if they have underlying health conditions.Dr. Sarah Nosal, a primary care physician in the Bronx, New York, stresses the importance of isolation to stop the spread of illness.맥스카지노�Because I맥스카지노�m a family doc, I맥스카지노�m usually taking care of all those people who live in that same house or in the community with that individual. 맥스카지노� It맥스카지노�s really about helping both prevent other exposures and the basics of caring for you,맥스카지노� she said.The home tests may also help patients get treatment faster.Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, says his emergency department is currently full of people with respiratory infections, the majority of whom are sick with the flu.맥스카지노�What we say is 맥스카지노�Oh, I맥스카지노�ll get better in the morning맥스카지노� or 맥스카지노�I don맥스카지노�t want to bother the doctor.맥스카지노� And so, we postpone the contact with the health care system,맥스카지노� Schaffner said. 맥스카지노�And of course, when we do contact, then it맥스카지노�s two days later, and the treatment is going to be somewhat less effective. So, if the testing were widely available 맥스카지노� then that might motivate patients to contact their providers earlier.맥스카지노�The differentiation between flu and COVID-19 can also be critical when determining treatment and managing symptom expectations. COVID-19 can cause more serious illness in particular cases, according to the CDC. Patients who test positive for COVID-19 could also be at risk of long-COVID.Both viruses also have different antiviral treatment options. Although most people will get better in a few days without drugs, antiviral medications like Tamiflu and Paxlovid are more effective when given within the first two days of symptoms, according to the CDC.For new tests, 맥스카지노�adoption takes a while맥스카지노�Mara Aspinall, a professor of practice in biomedical diagnostics at Arizona State University, says she has seen these combo tests in every pharmacy she has entered this season.맥스카지노�This is the first year that you have been able to get any sort of a flu test fully at home, and 맥스카지노� adoption takes a while,맥스카지노� she said.Purchases of the tests have increased in recent months, according to Michael Mina, chief scientific officer of the telehealth company eMed and an expert in the epidemiology, immunology and spread of infectious disease.However, with the number of flu cases continuing to rise, experts are concerned about whether people will use them.This is in part because the over-the-counter COVID-flu tests are not covered by insurance. Walgreens sells its lowest-cost brand for $30 per two-pack, and prices are similar at other pharmacies.맥스카지노�I think that맥스카지노�s a big barrier right now: People don맥스카지노�t really want to pay for it,맥스카지노� said Mina,맥스카지노�Now, I just hope that we continue to see barriers to health care come down as the tools that would normally be used in a health care provider in a setting 맥스카지노� you can use while sitting in bed,맥스카지노� he said.