Seeing the doctor
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Sick children should always be allowed to speak for themselves, regardless of their age. The older they are, of course, the more important it is to listen to what the young patients have to say and take it into account. This is especially true for older children and young people.
Around the crossover between pediatrics and adult medicine – the so-called “transition phase” – it is especially important to include the experience and knowledge of the young patients and to give them a feeling that they are in control so that subsequent treatment can be planned successfully.
Written by the HELPFÜRMICH editors and updated on 06.06.23 -
There are several things you can do to make sure you communicate effectively with the medical staff.
Beforehand, regardless of whether the conversation happens at the doctor’s practice, on the phone or on a video call, you should take some time to prepare what you want to say.
The following tips can help you:
- Don’t forget to take along, or have ready, all your medical reports (your “medical file"), sorted chronologically if possible.
- In a structured way, tell the doctor precisely what symptoms you have. Start with the ones that are most important from your point of view.
- Before the appointment, you should write down any questions you want to ask the doctor.
- During the consultation, you should mention all the points that are important to you.
- If you don't understand something, you should ask about it.
- It’s a good idea to make notes during the consultation. They can help you to remember everything later on.
Here are some more tips for your conversation with the doctor and for preparing for a video consultation.
A short film by cartoonist Werner Tiki Küstenmacher summarizes the main points.
A brochure produced by the patient safety alliance APS provides further information and tips on preparing to see the doctor.
Written by the HELPFÜRMICH editors and updated on 22.11.23
COVID tests
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Antigen self-test:
These test kits are also sometimes called “rapid antigen tests”, “lateral flow tests” or “home tests” and are freely available for sale online and over-the-counter in supermarkets and pharmacies. They are easy to use and can be done at home. An antigen self-test shows whether certain proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus are present on your mucous membranes. If they are, this indicates infection.
For some antigen self-tests you need to take a sample from inside your nose. For others, taking a sample means you have to spit, suck something or gargle. To find out exactly what you need to do, read the instructions belonging to your particular test kit and follow them exactly. If you are not going to use a test kit straight away, you should also follow the instructions on storage.
The result of an antigen self-test is usually visible within 15 to 30 minutes.
Rapid antigen test
Rapid antigen tests are sometimes just called “quick tests” and are carried out by specially-trained people. Like a self-test, a rapid test also checks the mucous membranes to find out whether particular proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus are present. For these tests, a sample is usually taken from the nose or throat. The result of the test is available in 15 to 30 minutes.
PCR Test
A PCR test or lab test is the “gold standard” among the coronavirus tests. It is based on the so-called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which allows the hereditary material of the virus to be copied many times over. This makes it possible to detect the virus even when it is only present in the body in small quantities. As with antigen self-tests, the sample for a PCR test is taken from your throat, for which the swab is inserted into your mouth, or from the back of your nose, for which the swab is inserted into your nose. The sample is then sent to a lab to be analyzed.
PoC-NAAT Test
Like PCR tests, these tests are based on nucleic acid amplification technology (NAAT). However, they have the advantage that they can provide a result quickly and can therefore be used at the Point of Care (PoC) itself. The sensitivity is somewhat lower than that of a PCR test and the error rate is higher.
Antibody test
After an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the body develops special proteins that can be detected in the blood. These proteins may not be detectable in the body until a few weeks after the infection. An antibody test therefore only shows if someone has had COVID-19 in the past and does not show whether they are infected at the time the test is carried out.
Further information about COVID tests is available at infektionsschutz.de, the website of BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education).
Detailed instructions on the use of self-tests are available from the Robert Koch Institute.
Written by the HELPFÜRMICH editors and updated on 23.05.22 -
The PCR test is the most reliable form of test indicating infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
A PCR test is carried out by a trained member of staff who takes a sample from you. The sample is taken either from your throat, by inserting a swab into your mouth, or from the back of your nose, by inserting the swab into your nose. The sample is then sent to a lab to be analyzed.
When the sample is analyzed, the so-called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to reproduce the hereditary material of the virus many times over. This makes it possible to detect the virus even when it is only present in the body in small quantities.
A PCR test can be used if infection is suspected, or if a rapid antigen test has already given a positive result, or if the person has symptoms suggesting SARS-Cov-2 infection.
PCR tests are also a requirement in certain everyday situations such as before hospital admission or when travelling by air.
It takes a few hours to carry out a PCR test. This means it can take one day or longer for the result of a PCR test to come through.
Further information is available at infektionsschutz.de, the website of BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education).
Written by the HELPFÜRMICH editors and updated on 23.05.22 -
Rapid antigen tests are very reliable at detecting whether someone has a high viral load and is therefore very infectious. This applies to both the antigen self-tests that you do at home and the rapid antigen tests done at testing sites.
But when only low levels of virus are present, as is the case in the first few days of an infection or when a vaccinated person becomes infected, antigen tests are less reliable because they are often not sufficiently sensitive to detect small amounts of virus. So the result can be a false-negative.
An additional factor is that the sensitivity of the tests varies depending on the manufacturer and the product. Some tests detect small amounts of virus while others do not. The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) has tested the sensitivity of 122 antigen tests available on the market and published the results here.
Another reason for incorrect results is that mistakes are often made in the testing procedure. So before you do a home test please read the instructions carefully and stick to the procedure exactly.
It is also possible for a rapid test to yield a false positive result. In this case, following it up with a PCR test is the only way to find out with certainty whether an infection with SARS-CoV-2 is present or not.
Further information about COVID tests is available at infektionsschutz.de, the website of BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education).
The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) provides further information on the sensitivity of rapid antigen tests.
Detailed instructions on the use of self-tests are available from the Robert Koch Institute.
Written by the HELPFÜRMICH editors and updated on 23.05.22 -
If your rapid test is positive you should isolate, avoid social contact and inform the people you have recently had contact with.
After a positive rapid test you should call a doctor or the medical standby service on 116 117 to discuss what to do next. A PCR test is often carried out to check the result of the rapid test. However, in certain cases a positive rapid test result alone is accepted as sufficient evidence of infection with SARS-CoV-2.
When a PCR test confirms the positive result of the rapid test, you have to isolate and avoid social contact.
You should also consult a doctor to find out about the treatment options. How the treatment proceeds will depend on a lot of different factors such as your age, pre-existing conditions and the progress of the illness so far.
Further information about COVID tests is available at infektionsschutz.de, the website of BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education).
Further information about treatment options is available in the "Treatment" section.
Written by the HELPFÜRMICH editors and updated on 06.06.23
Diagnosis
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Whether further examinations are carried out after a positive coronavirus test result depends on how the illness progresses.
In mild cases with minimal symptoms it is often sufficient to stay at home, rest and avoid all social contact. No further examinations are necessary.
If the illness is moderate or severe, respiratory distress and fever can occur. In that case, additional blood and urine samples are taken so that other illnesses, e.g. flu or bacterial infections, can be excluded.
As the illness proceeds, further blood samples may need to be taken to check on kidney and liver function, for example.
Imaging procedures may also be used, such as X-rays of the chest and abdominal cavity and CT (computer tomography) scans of the lungs.
Further information about diagnostic procedures is available from the Robert Koch Institute.
Written by the HELPFÜRMICH editors and updated on 23.05.22 -
Rapid antigen tests and PCR tests are usually carried out in a doctor’s practice or at a special testing site.
Blood and urine samples are usually taken in a doctor’s practice - often that of the family doctor. Imaging procedures such as X-rays and ultrasound scans can also be performed at a doctor’s practice.
To have a CT scan you usually need to go to a radiology practice or a hospital. In most cases you will be able to leave the practice or hospital on the day when the examination is carried out.
Further information about diagnostic procedures is available from the Robert Koch Institute.
Written by the HELPFÜRMICH editors and updated on 23.05.22
