You’ve developed a new cough and it’s starting to disrupt your entire schedule. You’re not sure if it’s contagious, but you’ve called out of work just to be cautious. You’re not sleeping well, and the cough only seems to be getting worse.
The problem feels urgent, but you don’t want to go to the emergency room. How do you know when to seek medical help and where can you go?
Urgent care is designed for exactly these moments in life. Read on for our guide on when to go to urgent care for a cough and why seeking medical care is important.
When to Go to Urgent Care for a Cough
Some coughs can be addressed with home remedies like hot tea with honey or over-the-counter cough drops. However, coughing often requires a more targeted approach. Let’s talk about the signs that you need to seek medical care for a cough.
Persistent Coughing
If your cough is the result of an upper respiratory virus like the common cold, it’s likely to dissipate as your body heals. However, coughing can linger for weeks after even mild illnesses or show resistance to the home remedies we mentioned above.
Consider bringing kids under the age of 18 to urgent care if their cough doesn’t clear up in two to three weeks. Adults should seek urgent care if a cough doesn’t clear up in seven to eight weeks.
Severe or Concerning Symptoms
A typical cough caused by a cold or seasonal allergies results from a combination of mucus and inflammation in the throat. You may notice that coughing seems to move or loosen mucus and temporarily alleviate irritation. Take note if your cough is also accompanied by:
- Difficulty breathing or feelings of air hunger
- Chest pain
- High fever (100.4 degrees or higher)
- Chest pain
- Wheezing
In this case, duration doesn’t matter. Head to your local urgent care as soon as these symptoms arise.
Suspected Illness
Most coughs are caused by respiratory illnesses, although it’s rare to contract an illness and develop a cough with no other symptoms. You may also notice symptoms such as:
- Fever or chills
- Body aches
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Congestion or sinus pressure
According to Yale Medicine, the latest COVID-19 strain (XEC) causes similar symptoms as previous strains, including a cough. Go to urgent care to find out what illness your body is fighting and seek proper treatment.
High-Risk Factors
Some individuals should consider seeking rapid urgent care as soon as they notice new symptoms that are potentially linked to a virus or other illness. This is especially the case if you’re immunocompromised, which Penn Medicine defines as living with a low or weakened immune system. Examples of things that can weaken your immune system include:
- Certain diseases (such as HIV or Type 1 diabetes)
- Medical treatment involving immune suppressants
- Age
- Overall health (such as smoking status)
If you are immunocompromised, your body may struggle to fight off the illness that is causing your cough. Fast treatment may help to prevent worsening outcomes, including pneumonia.
Why Seek Out Cough Treatment Options?
Maybe you’re checking some of the boxes for when to go to urgent care for a cough, but you’re still not sure you want to make the trip. Here are some of the top reasons why we recommend seeking medical advice and care to treat your cough.
Faster Recovery
Proper treatment may help to speed up your recovery from whatever condition is causing your cough. For example, you may see faster recovery from COVID-19 by taking Paxlovid. If you’re fighting off an infection, antibiotics can prevent the infection from spreading while helping your body fight the infection quickly.
Reduced Spread
As we enter the cold and flu season, it’s important to start thinking about prevention as a community issue. By getting a diagnosis through your urgent care provider, you can take proper precautions (like masking or social distancing) to keep others from contracting your illness. Faster recovery times can also limit the number of people who are exposed to your germs.
Better Long-Term Outcomes
According to Mayo Clinic, a prolonged and vigorous cough can have serious secondary symptoms, including:
- Exhaustion or sleeplessness
- Fainting or dizziness
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Broken ribs
Seeking treatment to reduce or get rid of your cough can allow you to get back to your normal life without the added disruptions or health risks.
What to Expect When Going to Urgent Care for a Cough
If you’ve never been to an urgent care center, you may not know what to expect. Here are the steps we’ll take when you come to see us at MedNow.
Physical Examination
Once you are called back to see your urgent healthcare provider, you will receive a basic physical examination. The doctor will likely examine your throat and ears for signs of infection. They may also run a few tests to determine if you’re dealing with a virus or infection such as the flu, COVID-19, or strep.
Prescriptions and Home Treatment
After diagnosing the cause of your cough, your urgent healthcare provider will prescribe a treatment, which may include antivirals or antibiotics. They will also provide additional instructions to promote rapid recovery. For example, they may provide a note informing your boss or school that you are staying home to rest on doctor’s orders.
Suggestions for Follow-Up Care
In some cases, a physical examination may not be enough to diagnose your condition. Your urgent healthcare provider may order lab work and x-rays, which can often be completed onsite. They may also provide referrals for you to see specialists at other facilities.
Get Cough Care in Augusta from MedNow
Are you living with a persistent cough? Are you worried about the other symptoms that are accompanying your cough? Knowing when to go to urgent care for a cough can lead to better treatment, faster recovery times, and improved community health.
MedNow is locally owned and operated by Dr. Mark Newton, our board-certified emergency medical physician. Not only do we have multiple locations across the Augusta area but we accept most forms of insurance, making us one of the most accessible urgent care centers in Georgia. Find the location nearest you and come visit us, no appointment needed.
