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In the diagnosis of influenza, the test that boasts the highest accuracy is the PCR test (Real-Time RT-PCR). While the common rapid antigen test determines if a virus is currently in the body, the PCR test directly detects the virus's genetic material, making its accuracy over 99.9%.As of 2025, the PCR test is utilized as the "ultimate weapon" for cases where the result from a conventional rapid test is unclear, or for patients with a high risk of severe illness (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions).

When influenza is suspected, medical institutions primarily use the "Rapid Antigen Test," but there are also more highly accurate methods like the "PCR Test" and the newer "Immunochromatography Method." The type of test used significantly affects the time required to get results and, most importantly, the "Accuracy (Sensitivity)."

The most vexing issue with the rapid influenza antigen test is the "false negative" (being negative when you actually have the flu). A false negative not only delays appropriate treatment but also complicates the decision to return to school or work.Why do false negatives occur? It's due to a variety of factors, including the time elapsed since the onset of the fever, the virus type (especially Type B), and even the quality of the specimen collection.

Do you know how much a doctor actually relies on the result of a rapid test kit when diagnosing the flu? Many of the rapid antigen test kits used during the 2024-2025 season boast a sensitivity close to 90% for Type A influenza, but their sensitivity for Type B influenza tends to be lower, around 60% to 80%. This difference becomes a major issue, especially during the peak season.

When you have a high fever, the immediate urge is to rush to the hospital, but the accuracy (positive rate) of the influenza test is heavily influenced by the time elapsed since the onset of the fever (the start of the fever). If you go less than 12 hours after the fever starts, you are often sent home, as the positive rate for the rapid antigen test is very low. As of 2025, the iron rule for getting a confirmed diagnosis is to aim for the "12 to 36 hours after onset," which provides the most accurate results.

If you suspect you have the flu, rushing to the hospital immediately is often not the best move! The "12 to 48 hours (especially 12 to 24 hours) after the onset of fever" is the Golden Time for receiving an examination and test. This is when the rapid influenza test (rapid antigen test) achieves its highest accuracy, and when anti-influenza medications can exert their maximum effect.We will explain why going immediately after the fever starts can lead to a "false negative" result, and provide the latest guidelines for the 2024-2025 season, including what to do if more than 48 hours have passed. The general rule of thumb is: "Wait half a day to a full day after the fever starts, and go to the hospital before a full 24 hours has passed."

Stroke (Ischemic Stroke, Intracerebral Hemorrhage, and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage) treatment tends to be expensive. However, Japan's Universal Health Coverage (Health Insurance) generally caps the out-of-pocket patient burden at 30%(or 10% to 30% for those aged 70+). Given the long average hospital stay (over 108 days), the total cost can reach several million yen. In 2025, with the Baby Boomers entering late-stage elderly care, a sharp increase in overall healthcare costs is anticipated.

The length of hospitalization for a stroke varies greatly depending on the type of stroke (Ischemic Stroke, Intracerebral Hemorrhage, or Subarachnoid Hemorrhage), ranging from a few weeks at the shortest to over a year in the most severe cases. Notably, the spread of thrombectomy has led to a dramatic reduction in hospital stays for Ischemic Stroke in recent years, while Intracerebral Hemorrhage still tends to require prolonged hospitalization.

Rehabilitation after a stroke is not just about moving paralyzed limbs; it requires optimizing the strategy, start time, and main training content according to the type of stroke (Ischemic Stroke, Intracerebral Hemorrhage, or Subarachnoid Hemorrhage). Notably, "how early you start" is the biggest factor that dramatically changes the patient's life one year later.

After surviving the acute treatment phase of a stroke, patients and their families face the battle against residual deficits (sequelae). The type and severity of these deficits vary significantly depending on the stroke type—Ischemic Stroke (Infarction), Intracerebral Hemorrhage, or Subarachnoid Hemorrhage—and the recovery processes are distinct for each.