The reason we don't do flu tests is that usually it makes no difference in your treatment. If it makes no difference, we don't waste money unnecessarily on a test. Tests are only ordered if it helps make a diagnosis or guide treatment in some way.
Respiratory viruses are not commonly treated with drugs. They're treated with your immune system. Go home, rest, take OTC meds for your symptoms, and eat some chicken soup. Unless it's bad enough you're not oxygenating your blood, that's what you do. If you're in the hospital or in a high-risk category where the doc worries the flu could actually kill you or keep you for weeks in the hospital, the you might get a flu test to justify the antivirals and rule out other causes.
As for the flu vaccines, the argument for them is based on population-wide data. Basically, some bean counter with a MPH crunched the numbers and determined that the cost of paying for "free" flu shots was less than the cost of the acute care for all the old and frail people flu kills every year that would otherwise be prevented with the low efficacy flu shot. It's a net savings to the system to do it. You can look up those cost-effectiveness analyses if you want. CDC cites them prominently on their flu page.
The reason we don't do flu tests is that usually it makes no difference in your treatment. If it makes no difference, we don't waste money unnecessarily on a test. Tests are only ordered if it helps make a diagnosis or guide treatment in some way.
Respiratory viruses are not commonly treated with drugs. They're treated with your immune system. Go home, rest, take OTC meds for your symptoms, and eat some chicken soup. Unless it's bad enough you're not oxygenating your blood, that's what you do. If you're in the hospital or in a high-risk category where the doc worries the flu could actually kill you or keep you for weeks in the hospital, the you might get a flu test to justify the antivirals and rule out other causes.
As for the flu vaccines, the argument for them is based on population-wide data. Basically, some bean counter with a MPH crunched the numbers and determined that the cost of paying for "free" flu shots was less than the cost of the acute care for all the old and frail people flu kills every year that would otherwise be prevented with the low efficacy flu shot. It's a net savings to the system to do it. You can look up those cost-effectiveness analyses if you want. CDC cites them prominently on their flu page.