What Infections Can Be Treated at Urgent Care?

August 21, 2024 | Urgent Care

A girl lays on a couch with a washcloth on her forehead. A woman sits beside her, looking at a thermometer and talking on a cell phone.

No one wants to deal with an infection. They’re not only uncomfortable and worrisome, but they often require medical intervention.

Fortunately, the skilled providers and clinical staff at CareWell Urgent Care can help diagnose and treat infections. This means they can provide exceptional care for a broad range of viral and bacterial infections.

Strep Throat

Strep throat is an infection of the throat and tonsils caused by bacteria in the nose and throat. This bacterium spreads through respiratory droplets when people talk, cough, or sneeze. These droplets briefly hang in the air or sit on surfaces, making transferring from one person to another easy.

CareWell Urgent Care can perform a rapid strep test to diagnose (or rule out) strep throat. They can also prescribe antibiotics to help you feel better faster.

Pink Eye

Pink eye is an inflammation of the clear membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball (also known as the conjunctiva). A common adenovirus often causes this highly contagious infection, but other viruses and bacteria can also cause it. Those with a cold or sore throat have a higher risk of contracting pink eye. Early intervention can help limit its spread.

CareWell providers can quickly diagnose pink eye with a simple physical exam and prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointments to help you feel better, reduce complications, and help prevent transmission to others.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

A UTI is a common infection that occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and multiply. This painful infection often requires prompt medical care and a course of antibiotics to prevent it from worsening (spreading to the bladder and kidneys).

If you’re experiencing frequency, urgency, or pain while urinating, visit CareWell Urgent Care for a prompt urinalysis and diagnosis. Our providers can prescribe antibiotics and an analgesic pain reliever so you can start feeling better fast.

Common Cold

The common cold occurs when a virus causes inflammation in the membranes that line the nose and throat. This infection is highly contagious and is often spread through airborne droplets that are coughed or sneezed into the air and then inhaled by another person. While there is no cure for the common cold, CareWell can help you feel better and recover sooner.

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, our providers may prescribe anti-inflammatories to help you find relief.

Influenza (Flu)

The “flu” or influenza is a contagious respiratory virus that spreads through droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, laughs, or talks. These droplets can travel up to six feet and land on surfaces, infecting people who touch them and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.

If you’re struggling with flu symptoms, visit CareWell for a prompt diagnosis and to avoid potential complications like pneumonia. Our providers may be able to help stop the virus from replicating (worsening) with prescription medications.

COVID-19

Like the flu, COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory virus that most commonly spreads through air droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, laughs, or talks. Less common but still possible, these droplets travel up to six feet, land on surfaces, and infect people who touch them and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, seek urgent care as soon as possible. Antiviral medications are most effective when administered within five days of symptom onset.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox, or varicella, is a highly contagious virus that can spread through the air when someone with the disease coughs or sneezes. It can also spread from person to person by direct contact with the blisters, saliva, or mucus of an infected person. It is characterized by a rash that looks like pimples or insect bites in children. However, this virus can be much more severe in adults.

While there is no known cure for chickenpox, CareWell Urgent Care can help alleviate its uncomfortable symptoms with prescription medications.

Viral Infections

Many different viruses can cause uncomfortable or even dangerous infections. They often enter the body through the eyes, nose, mouth, anus, genitals, or a break in the skin.

If you’re struggling with the painful or uncomfortable symptoms of a viral infection, do not delay your care. Visit the skilled urgent care team at CareWell to avoid complications, get an accurate diagnosis, and medications needed to manage its symptoms.