Effect of a rapid influenza diagnosis.

Managing children with influenza-like illness is associated with costly and painful interventions because, in order to distinguish viral from bacterial infections, diagnostic tests (including routine blood examinations and chest radiographs) are frequently performed, 2 and the empirical use of antimicrobial agents is common. Various rapid diagnostic techniques for the detection of influenza viruses have been developed, but few data are available on their impact on child care. 4 5 The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a rapid diagnosis of influenza infection on the management of children with influenza-like illness in an emergency department.