New test could speed up child illness diagnosis

New test could speed up child illness diagnosis A new approach to diagnosing illnesses in children could help doctors choose the right treatment in double-quick time, say the researchers behind it.

Working out what is causing a fever - a virus, bacterial infection or something else - is often difficult and tests can take days or weeks to come back.

The Imperial College London team says looking at gene patterns in someone's blood could speed up diagnosis.

Development of the test is still at an early stage. BBC News

See also:

• Diagnosis of childhood febrile illness using a multi-class blood RNA molecular signature (open access) Cell Press Med