How long will flu show up on a rapid test?

[AC7179]

My daughter got sick on Sunday. Lots of friends in her class have strep.

My husband took her to the doctor yesterday and she tested negative for strep, but the doctor said that sometimes happens and he was going to treat her for strep anyway. He prescribed an antibiotic.

Well, now there is a local flu outbreak and I googled flu symtoms and she has each and every one. I'm annoyed that when the strep test came back negative the doctor didn't follow up with a flu test. I'd rather not have her take antibiotic if not needed.

She is actually a little better today and my husband and I have differing opinions as to whether to send her for a flu test. Would it still show up? She started symptoms on Saturday but felt really bad on Sunday.

 

[mickeyboat]

Last year I started feeling badly on a Friday, came down with flu-like symptoms on Saturday morning, and had a positive flu swab on Monday morning. I knew I was on the borderline of timing for Tamiflu, but I tried it anyway. I think it helped some, but I still felt pretty badly for weeks.

Would your treatment plan change if she tested positive for the flu? If you take her in, you are exposing more people to whatever she has, and if your treatment plan will not change, then I don't see the point in taking her in. If you think she should stop the antibiotics, I think you could discuss that with her doctor over the phone.

I hope your DD feels better, soon.

 

[AC7179]

I would probably keep her out of school longer than I would if she had strep, but probably mainly I want to know because my husband really likes our doctor and I don't think he's so great. So *proof* that she had the flu and he missed it would help my case. She's staying with my 65 year old mother today which would not have happened had I thought she had the flu before work today.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

In my experience, Strep and Influenza present pretty differently. I would doubt that she would be feeling better today if she had influenza. If she is already on the antibiotic, I would have her finish as prescribed.
If she tests positive for flu, so what? It's probably too late for her to start antivirals. I wouldn't take her back out to a place to expose others to her illness or her to a place where she could pick up a secondary infection.

 

[AC7179]

Her symptoms are fever (100-102), sore throat, cough, chills, and tiredness/just feeling rotten. She felt sick to her stomach on Sunday. The fever is down to under 100 today and she has a bit more energy. Good thoughts on exposing others to her if she's sick. I just think if strep came back negative, he should have tested for flu then. She felt VERY badly last night and her fever went up to 102. Maybe (God forbid) my husband is right.

 

[mickeyboat]

Her symptoms are fever (100-102), sore throat, cough, chills, and tiredness/just feeling rotten. She felt sick to her stomach on Sunday. The fever is down to under 100 today and she has a bit more energy. Good thoughts on exposing others to her if she's sick. I just think if strep came back negative, he should have tested for flu then. She felt VERY badly last night and her fever went up to 102. Maybe (God forbid) my husband is right.

I can only tell you that when I had the flu, I would not describe it as rotten. I would describe it as feeling overwhelmingly terrible and worse than I have ever felt in my life. My fever was over 102 most of the time, even with medication. Your daughter's symptoms sound like strep to me. But take that for what it's worth - which isn't much!

 

[AC7179]

Good to know! I wouldn't ever say she felt like she was going to die. I'd cap it off at terrible. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Jax1023]

Either way it's too late for tamiflu, so there's really nothing you can do at this point besides treat symptoms. Save the copay and skip the flu test.

 

[MomiTo2SwtGuys]

My oldest son had the flu in may of this year. He tested neg one day and the next he was positive. The rest are not completely accurate.

The only reason I would get her tested is in case someone else in the family starts having symptoms. When they go to the doctor you could tell that they were exposed to the flu. That may save on extra testing that could be done on other siblings, yourself or dh.

 

[Snoozan]

The quick strep test done in the Dr's office does not always show positive even with strep. My DGS did not test positive for strep, but 3 days later the Doctor's office called to say the long-term test did show positive. He did not go on to the antibiotic until the Dr's office called as my DDIL is leery of all the antibiotics prescribed these days. His symptoms were similar - cough, fever and feeling pretty icky. But, he bounced back pretty quickly after starting the antibiotics.

 

[luvwinnie]

I've had both and they are quite distinct. With strep, the pain was so bad, I avoided swallowing. With flu, I never even had a sore throat. I had such a Hugh fever when I had it 12 years ago DH took me to the Er and a massive headache. With the flu, I don't move from the couch for a good 4 days. I get the vaccine now. Hope she is better soon.

 

[AC7179]

She has a 101 temp again tonight. Poor baby. :-/ I'm hoping she is better soon!

 

[Poohforyou]

Her symptoms are fever (100-102), sore throat, cough, chills, and tiredness/just feeling rotten. She felt sick to her stomach on Sunday. The fever is down to under 100 today and she has a bit more energy. Good thoughts on exposing others to her if she's sick. I just think if strep came back negative, he should have tested for flu then. She felt VERY badly last night and her fever went up to 102. Maybe (God forbid) my husband is right.

Just for future reference, a cough and chills aren't typical symptoms of strep but often are with the flu. Even a fever doesn't always occur with strep. Actually our doctor, who we love, has said that if a cough is present the illness isn't strep. That has always proven true with our family.

We've had step many times in this house. The flu presents a little differently with each person. I've had it twice in the last 10 years or so and both times were different.

 

[AC7179]

She's now got a really severe cough. I've called the doctor and they said bring her in---it's not strep if she's coughing. I'm not sure it's flu either, but hopefully it's something they can treat. Thanks for all the information about flu/strep.

 

[disney1990]

Her symptoms are fever (100-102), sore throat, cough, chills, and tiredness/just feeling rotten. She felt sick to her stomach on Sunday. The fever is down to under 100 today and she has a bit more energy. Good thoughts on exposing others to her if she's sick. I just think if strep came back negative, he should have tested for flu then. She felt VERY badly last night and her fever went up to 102. Maybe (God forbid) my husband is right.

Sore throat is not usually a sign of the flu. Hope she is better soon.

 

[AC7179]

My step daughter is a soon to be RN (just graduated with her BSN but hasn't taken her test yet) and she told me a sore throat IS indicative of flu in children, but you're the second person who has told me sore throat usually means it's not flu. At this point, I have no idea WHAT she has. Maybe just a particularly bad virus, I hope. I'll be glad when she's feeling better and I'm definitely glad I'm not in the business of medicine.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

Your poor DD.
It's possible she has both. Our pediatrician said strep and flu can go together, not because they're related but because they both tend to run rampant in schools at the same time and it's certainly possible to get one on top of the other.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Sounds exactly like how my sons presents with pneumonia. They usually do a chest xray and change the antibiotic to something stronger.

Night time chills is a very specific pneumonia symptom in my children.

Hope the doctor takes their time and diagnosis your child and they feel better very soon. (also, so many viruses going around right now and I think those are worse. Just have to wait them out, rest, liquid, and Mom and Dad's love).

 

[anewvance]

DD went to school on Friday just fine, when she got home she was like a different child... coughing, chills, aches, sore throat, nausea and 103 fever. The next day her fever was 104 so I took her to the ER. She tested positive for the flu and was sent home saying she had to take the whole week off of school and drink lots of fluids. Well the ER called me yesterday, turns out they ran a strep growth test as well and it was positive too. So she has the flu and strep right now.... she is NOT a happy camper.

 

[indygirl99]

My step daughter is a soon to be RN (just graduated with her BSN but hasn't taken her test yet) and she told me a sore throat IS indicative of flu in children, but you're the second person who has told me sore throat usually means it's not flu. At this point, I have no idea WHAT she has. Maybe just a particularly bad virus, I hope. I'll be glad when she's feeling better and I'm definitely glad I'm not in the business of medicine.

From an RN who has 30 years experience in Pediatrics, and we are in the midst of flu season here, a sore throat is NOT an indication of flu in children.