Every year, around 130 million people visit their local emergency departments. These patients may present with a wide range of non-life-threatening symptoms.
But when you’re not feeling at your best, knowing when you should attend urgent care or seek alternative medical treatment can be tough. Urgent care centers can treat the vast majority of common medical issues. From bone fractures to headaches, there are all kinds of things that can be treated in a quick and cost-effective manner.
If you want to know about some common ailments suitable for treatment at an urgent care center, we can help. Keep reading to find out more about some of the most common ailments that can be treated at urgent care.
1. Flu or Flu-like Symptoms
The flu can really hit you hard. Sometimes it can be treated with simple bed rest, but when it’s particularly bad, you might require additional treatment.
Seek treatment when flu-like symptoms have persisted for longer than a few days, or if the symptoms are extreme. You may need symptom relief or antiviral medication.
2. Burns
Burns are an extremely common injury in the home and in workplaces. Although they can vary heavily in severity, most burns are suitable for treatment at urgent care centers.
Depending on the nature of the burn, treatment may range from ointment and bandages to pain relief medication. Second and third degree burns may require surgery to treat effectively.
3. Allergic Reactions
Strong allergic reactions may require urgent medical attention. You may have come into contact with a known allergen by mistake. Or you may have eaten something, only to discover you are allergic.
Symptoms will vary depending on the severity of the allergy. The patient may experience swelling, watering eyes, itching, sneezing, and more.
Medical professionals can administer treatment like antihistamines or steroid tablets which can alleviate symptoms. For more severe reactions, an EpiPen may be used. Further treatment and testing at a hospital may be required for new allergies.
4. Respiratory Issues
Respiratory issues like bronchitis are commonly treated at urgent care centers. An examination from a medical professional can help to get you the best treatment.
Respiratory infections can be treated with common medications like antibiotics. Our professionals can investigate, then quickly treat the problem.
If the patient is unable to draw breath at all, they may need to attend the emergency room, as this would be considered a life-threatening situation.
5. Ear Infections
Ear infections are a common ailment for people of all ages. They are often present alongside a sore throat or a sinus infection. These issues can cause pain, problems with balance, and tiredness.
Medical professionals at the urgent care center can quickly and efficiently examine your ear canal to work out the source of the infection. Then they can offer symptom relief and treatment, probably in the form of antibiotics.
6. Headaches
Unfortunately, headaches are something we all experience. But when the pain level increases, starting to become unmanageable, further medical treatment might be required.
Severe headaches like migraines are often treated at urgent care centers. This is a fast and cost-effective way to get treatment for this sometimes debilitating ailment.
If the problem persists, you may be referred for further investigations at a specialist.
7. Stomach Issues
The stomach can face all manner of different problems.
Common stomach issues treated at an urgent care center include:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Food poisoning
- Stomach virus
These issues may require a variety of treatments to reduce pain and address the causes.
Some symptoms associated with stomach issues may cause further problems. For example, diarrhea can result in dehydration, requiring further treatment.
In rare cases, extreme stomach pain may be a warning sign of a more serious problem. An urgent care can point you in the right direction for further treatment.
8. Fractures
Fractures or dislocations need immediate treatment. In most cases, urgent care can provide basic treatment.
The first step is diagnostic. We have onsite X-ray facilities so we can quickly assess the problem before building a treatment plan.
Various types of treatments are available. For a fracture, this could involve providing splints and bandages.
9. Vomiting
Everyone vomits from time to time. But when it becomes excessive, you might need to seek urgent medical care.
An urgent care can investigate the issue to see what might be causing the vomiting. They can offer you relief from the symptoms, along with the fluids and electrolytes you need to replace everything you lost while vomiting.
Urgent Care When You Need It
When you need urgent care, it’s important to know you can access quality medical care. Our urgent care clinic treats a range of ailments, including all of the above-mentioned conditions and many more.
We offer fast, friendly service for walk-in appointments. Our highly trained and experienced staff will do their best to help you. Come on down to one of our eight facilities or contact us today for more details.
