Blog

Strep Throat

Experiencing a sore and scratchy throat? You might have a bacterial infection known as strep throat, also known as streptococcal pharyngitis. While strep throat is one of the most aggravating winter conditions, it doesn’t have to keep you down for long. To get fast relief, visit a walk in clinic or an urgent care clinic near you as soon as you begin having symptoms.

How does strep throat spread?

There are four main ways strep throat spreads:

1. Airborne respiratory droplets such as coughs or sneezes
2. Saliva exchange such as kissing or drink sharing
3. Skin-to-skin or physical contact such as handshakes or hugs

How do I know if I have strep throat?

People often confuse a simple sore throat with strep throat. If a sore throat lasts longer than 48 hours or you experience a fever higher than 101 F, then it might be more than just a sore throat. Other symptoms that help you identify strep throat include:

• Chills, fatigue, fever, and/or loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain in one or both ears
• Severe pain while swallowing
• Swollen lymph nodes or tonsils

How can I treat my strep throat?

Although fairly uncommon, complications of untreated strep throat can involve the heart or kidneys. Because strep throat can only be diagnosed and treated by a medical professional, it is highly recommended that you seek medical treatment. From oral antibiotics to other medication, there are several treatment options that your walk in urgent care provider can offer. First Care is a local walk in clinic that can help you recover from your strep throat quickly. Walk in our clinic the moment you begin to have symptoms, and we will get you in and out and on the road to feeling better. To conveniently serve you, we are open extended hours during the week and on the weekends. Get In. Get Out. Get Better.

Flu (Influenza)

The flu, also known as influenza, is a very common illness in the United States. This viral infection can be dangerous and even deadly if left untreated. This is especially true for high-risk groups such as young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with a chronic disease. To get quick relief, visit a walk-in clinic or an urgent care clinic near you as soon as you begin having symptoms.

How does the flu spread?

Although partly preventable through a simple vaccine (flu shot), the flu can spread very easily. There are four main ways the flu spreads:

1. Airborne respiratory droplets such as coughs or sneezes
2. Contact with a contaminated surface such as a handrail or doorknob
3. Saliva exchange such as kissing or drink sharing
4. Skin-to-skin or physical contact such as handshakes or hugs

How do I know if I have the flu?

Typically the flu is self-diagnosable. Usual symptoms include chills, cough, congestion, fatigue, fever, headaches, muscle aches, and runny nose. However, there are several other symptoms that help identify the flu, such as:

• Chills, dehydration, fever, loss of appetite, and/or sweating
• Congested or runny nose, and sneezing
• Discomfort or tightness in your chest
• Dry throat that is irritated or sore
• Joint and muscle aches
• Mild to severe dry cough with phlegm
• Nausea and/or upset stomach

How can I treat my flu?

Although most healthy people overcome the flu after a few days or weeks, for some high-risk groups the flu can lead to complications and can be life threatening. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you seek medical treatment. Keep in mind that antibiotics will not treat the flu. Antibiotics only work against bacteria, and the flu is caused by a virus. However, there are other prescriptions and treatment options that your walk in urgent care provider can offer. First Care is a local walk in clinic that can help you recover from the flu quickly. Walk in our clinic the moment you begin to have symptoms, and we will get you in and out and on the road to feeling better. To conveniently serve you, we are open extended hours during the week and on the weekends. Get In. Get Out. Get Better.

Cough and Bronchitis

Like the common cold, there are over 3 million cases of acute bronchitis and persistent cough reported each year in the United States. Causing you to lose sleep or forcing you to walk out of a gathering, this annoying viral respiratory infection can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. To get fast relief, walk into an urgent care clinic near you as soon as you begin having symptoms.

How does bronchitis and cough spread?

Acute bronchitis and persistent cough spread very easily, making it difficult to avoid this aggravating illness. There are three main ways bronchitis and cough spread:

1. Airborne respiratory droplets such as coughs or sneezes
2. Contact with a contaminated surface such as a handrail or doorknob
3. Saliva exchange such as kissing or drink sharing

How do I know if I have bronchitis or a persistent cough?

Bronchitis and persistent cough is typically self-diagnosable. Obvious symptoms usually include consistent coughing and shortness of breath. However, there are several other symptoms that help identify acute bronchitis and persistent cough, such as:

• Chills, fatigue, or slight fever
• Difficulty sleeping, headache, and/or runny nose
• Discomfort or tightness in your chest
• Dry and chronic cough with phlegm
• Respiratory issues such as shortness of breath or wheezing

How can I treat my bronchitis or persistent cough?

Because the infection can travel deeper into the respiratory system and develop into pneumonia, it is highly recommended that you seek medical treatment. Although antibiotics are not usually recommended, there are other prescriptions and treatment options that your urgent care provider can offer. First Care is a local walk-in clinic that can help you recover from your acute bronchitis or persistent cough quickly. Walk in our clinic the moment you begin to have symptoms, and we will get you in and out and on the road to feeling better. To conveniently serve you, we are open extended hours during the week and on the weekends. Get In. Get Out. Get Better.

Common Cold

With more than 3 million cases per year in the United States, it’s no wonder why this pesky condition is known as the Common Cold. This viral infection of the nose and throat can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Although the condition is typically harmless, a common cold can really put a damper on your daily life.

How does the cold spread?

One reason the cold is so common is because how easily it spreads. There are four main ways the cold spreads:

• Airborne respiratory droplets such as coughs or sneezes
• Contact with a contaminated surface such as a handrail or doorknob
• Skin-to-skin or physical contact such as handshakes or hugs
• Saliva exchange such as kissing or drink sharing

How do I know if I have a cold?

The common cold is typically self-diagnosable. Obvious symptoms usually include a runny nose, congestion, and sneezing. However, there are several other symptoms that help identify a common cold, such as:

• Chills, exhaustion, slight fever, loss of appetite, and/or body aches
• Congested or runny nose with redness, post-nasal drip, or sneezing
• Dry cough with phlegm
• Dry throat that is irritated or sore
• Itchy, red, and/or watery eyes
• Pain in the forehead, muscles, and/or sinuses

You may also experience more severe symptoms such as a high fever. In these situations, it is very important to visit an urgent care clinic, especially for children.

How can I treat my cold?

While most people will recover from the cold on their own within one to two weeks, there are many over-the-counter products that can help regulate your symptoms. First Care is a local and convenient urgent care clinic that can help you recover from your cold quickly. Walk in our clinic the moment you begin to experience symptoms and we will get you in and out and on the road to feeling better. To serve you, we are open extended hours during the week and on the weekends. Get In. Get Out. Get Better.

Seasonal Allergies

Few things in life are more annoying than the symptoms that come with seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever. Loud sneezes, runny noses, and red, watery, itchy eyes make this very common condition unbearable. While hay fever symptoms can be experienced seasonally or year-round, victims don’t have to suffer for long. To get fast relief, visit a walk in clinic or an urgent care clinic near you as soon as you begin having symptoms.

How causes hay fever and allergic reactions?

An allergic reaction is the response your body gives when it encounters something that is a perceived threat. Essentially, hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. When these small, airborne particles come into contact with the cells that line your mouth, nose, eyes and throat, they irritate them and trigger an allergic reaction.

How do I know if I have hay fever and allergies?

It isn’t difficult to tell if you are experiencing hay fever and allergies. The most common symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, and red, watery, and itchy eyes. Other symptoms that help you identify allergies include:

• Itchy, puffy, red, and/or watery eyes
• Pain in the ear(s), face, and/or sinuses
• Congested or runny nose with redness, post-nasal drip, or sneezing

However, for some people their allergies may be more chronic in nature. Diagnosis for chronic allergies includes history-taking, examination of nasal passages, and sometimes skin testing.

How can I treat my hay fever and allergies?

There are many over-the-counter antihistamine products that can help regulate your symptoms. From prescriptions to other medication, there are several treatment options that your walk in urgent care provider can offer. First Care is a local walk in clinic that can help you recover from your hay fever and seasonal allergies quickly. Walk in our clinic the moment you begin to have symptoms, and we will get you in and out and on the road to feeling better. If it is determined by your specialist that you need routine allergy shots, First Care can administer those for you. To conveniently serve you, we are open extended hours during the week and on the weekends. Get In. Get Out. Get Better