How to distinguish between influenza A and influenza B
Disease description:
Hello, doctor. Recently, people around me have been infected with influenza A. I'd like to consult with you: how can one differentiate between influenza A and influenza B?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Jiang Weimin
First, to differentiate between influenza A and influenza B, a routine influenza A test should be performed initially to detect influenza A viral RNA fragments; a positive result indicates the patient may be infected with the influenza A virus. If the result is positive, testing for influenza B should follow, which includes detecting Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-Hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs). The presence of these antibodies helps determine whether the patient is infected with the hepatitis B virus. Additionally, the patient may consider undergoing a Hepatitis B virus DNA test to further confirm the presence of the virus and assess its level of activity. All these tests can be conducted in a clinical laboratory, and the results will assist physicians in accurately diagnosing whether the patient is concurrently infected with both influenza A and hepatitis B viruses.
