Rapid diagnostic test for influenza

Rapid tests for influenza virus infection: 

upper: influenza A

lower: influenza B

In Japan, rapid tests for influenza virus infection are routinely used by Physicians.
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The sensitivities, when compared with viral culture, or reverse transcription 

polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)are approximately 85~98 %. 

The specificities are approximately 90~99%.

Both A and B are week positive: false results.

There are several sites to obtain the samples:
---------- 1) Nasopharyngeal swab: the best
---------- 2) Throat swab
---------- 3) Nasal swab

------------ New England Journal of Medicine -------

upper: classical cotton swab

middle: thin cotton swab 

lower: Tip flocked with Nylon fiber

Any questions: write to

--------------------Keiji Hagiwara, MD 

--------------------Kami-Ube Pediatric Clinic, Ube 755-0097, Japan.

Relenza: a inhalation drug for Flu

Zanamivir ( Relenza, GlaxoSmithKline) is a oral inhalation drugs, used in the treatment 
and prophylaxis of influenza caused by influenza A virus and influenza B virus. 

The recommended dose of RELENZA in adults and pediatric patients
aged 7 years and older is 10 mg twice daily (approximately 12 hours apart) for 5 days.
• Two doses should be taken on the first day of treatment
    whenever possible provided there is at least 2 hours between doses.
• On subsequent days, doses should be about 12 hours apart
    (e.g., morning and evening) at approximately the same time each day.

12-year-old boy, influenza A infection

10-year-old girl, influenza B infection

Any questions;   Keiji Hagiwara, 

                           Kami-Ube Pediatric Clinic, Ube 755-0097, Japan.

                           keijihagiwara@gmail.com

Bird Flu (Avian influenza) in Tokiwa park

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February 9th. a black swan was found in dead at Tokiwa lake. The tests showed influenza 

A, H5 subtype, suggesting Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus.

           ➙ Avian influenza : resources for health professionals (CDC)

  　

From 9th to 11th, except for Pelicans, 322 swans and 14 ducks have been slaughtered 

for preventing further spreads of Flu.  The swans came from Rotterdam in 1957---------

----- A sad ending.

Swans in Tokiwa park, Ube city

Swans

white swan

Black swans

Questions?

-------------------- Keiji Hagiwara,   keijihagiwara@gmail.com 

Japanese encephalitis

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Japanese encephalitis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
i) agent: Japanese encephalitis virus( RNA virus).
ii) transmission: the bite of an infected mosquito, primarily Culex species. 

mosquito; carrier of Japanese encephalitis virus(Culex tritaeniorhynchus)
---------- Department of Medical Entomology, NIID, Japan

iii) Disease: a few than 1% of human develop the encephalitis. Most peoples

------ are symptom-free.  Case–fatality ratio is around 20%–30%. 

------ Among survivors, 30%–50% may have significant neurological sequelae.

iv) Incidence of Japanese encephalitis:

----- In Japan, fewer than 10 patients/ year.

----- This virus is the most common cause of encephalitis in Asia, 

----- occurring throughout most of Asia and parts of the western Pacific. 

----- The virus has not been locally transmitted in Africa, Europe, or USA.

------ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -------

v) prevention:  If you work or travel rural area during summer or rainy seasons,
----------- where mosquito bites are there ,
-----------Japanese encephalitis vaccine( 3 times; 0, 1~4 weeks, 1 year) should
----------- be administered.

Inactivated Vero Cell Culture-Derived JE Vaccine

Any questions;  
       Keiji Hagiwara, MD   keijihagiwara@gmail.com