Urgent Care
Sick Visits
Importance of Sick Visits
We know that illnesses aren’t planned and it can be difficult to get an appointment at the last minute. Our urgent care visits can help when those unplanned illnesses arrive. We are glad to offer same day appointments for when you are sick or have an urgent problem. They are available every weekday. These appointments aren’t for every type of problem. They are only for those minor yet urgent problems.
Here are of some examples of the types of problems we can treat during our Urgent Care Visits:
- Colds and Coughs
- Fever
- Flu
- Headaches and Migraines
- Sprains and Strains
- Upper Respiratory Conditions (Bronchitis, Sinus Infections)
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Other common illnesses
Common Reasons for Sick Visits
We understand as a parent, a sick child is always a concern. Whether it is your toddler or teenager, the staff at Magnolia Family Medicine & Wellness is available to help your child get well quickly. Whether it is the stomach bug, flu, a cut that needs sutures or the common cold, our staff offers the best of care for your child to allow them to return home and to school comfortable and well.
Common pediatric sickness symptoms are:
- Abdominal pain
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Continuous crying
- Cuts, scrapes or bruises
- Decreased intake of fluid (Dehydration)
- Diaper rash
- Diarrhea
- Ear congestion and discharge
- Swollen or irritated eyes
- Headache
- Heat rash
- Lack of appetite (not eating or taking breast milk)
- Sore Throat
- Irregular looking urine or stool
- Vomiting
Ear Infections
Understanding an Ear Infection
An ear infection (acute otitis media) is most often a bacterial or viral infection that affects the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum that contains the tiny vibrating bones of the ear. Children are more likely than adults to get ear infections.
Ear infections frequently are painful because of inflammation and buildup of fluids in the middle ear.
Often times ear infection heal on their own, treatment may begin with managing pain and monitoring the problem. Ear infection in infants and severe cases in general often require antibiotic medications. Long-term problems related to ear infections — persistent fluids in the middle ear, persistent infections or frequent infections — can cause hearing problems and other serious complications.
Causes of an Ear Infection
Causes of eustachian tube blockage include:
- Allergies
- Colds
- Sinus infections
- Excess mucus
- Smoking
- Infected or swollen adenoids (tissue near your tonsils that traps harmful bacteria and viruses)
- Changes in air pressure
Signs & Symptoms of an Ear Infection
The onset of signs and symptoms of ear infection is usually rapid.
Children
Signs and symptoms common in children include:
- Ear pain, especially when lying down
- Tugging or pulling at an ear
- Difficulty sleeping due to pain
- Crying more than usual
- Acting more irritable than usual
- Lack of response to sounds
- Loss of balance
- Fever of 100 F (38 C) or higher
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
Adults
Common signs and symptoms in adults include:
- Ear pain
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
- Diminished hearing
These symptoms might persist or come and go. Symptoms may occur in one or both ears. Pain is usually more severe with double ear infection (infection in both ears).
Chronic ear infection symptoms may be less noticeable than those of acute ear infections.
Children younger than 6 months who have a fever or ear infection symptoms should be seen by their doctor or urgent care. Always seek medical attention if your child has a fever higher than 102°F (39°C) or severe ear pain.
Treatment for an Ear Infection
Most mild ear infections clear up without medical treatment however acute and chronic infections need specialist attention.
Some of the following methods are effective in relieving the symptoms of a mild ear infection:
- Apply a warm cloth to the affected ear.
- Take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication such as Ibuprofen (Advil) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol).
- Use OTC or prescription ear drops to relieve pain.
- Take OTC decongestants such as Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed).
If your symptoms get worse or don’t improve, you should schedule an appointment with our urgent care and one of our specialists can help you get checked and treated. Antibiotics may be prescribed if your ear infection is chronic or doesn’t appear to be improving.
It’s important to finish your entire course of antibiotics if they’re prescribed.
Surgery may be an option if your ear infection isn’t eliminated with the usual medical treatments or if you have many ear infections over a short period of time. Most often, tubes are placed in the ears to allow fluid to drain out.
In cases that involve enlarged adenoids, surgical removal of the adenoids may be necessary.
Sore Throat
Understanding a Sore Throat
A sore throat is pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat that often worsens when you swallow. The most common cause of a sore throat (pharyngitis) is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. Typically, a sore throat caused by a virus resolves on its own.
Most sore throats are caused by infections or by environmental factors like dry air. Although a sore throat can be uncomfortable, it’ll usually go away on its own. Pain in the throat is one of the most common symptoms and accounts for more than 13 million visits to doctor’s offices each year.
Strep throat (streptococcal infection), a less common type of sore throat caused by bacteria, requires treatment by your doctor or urgent care provider of antibiotics to prevent complications. Other less common causes of sore throat might require more complex treatment.
Causes of a Sore Throat
Sore throat may be caused by either injury or infection.
Here are some of the most common sore throat causes:
Colds, the flu, and other viral infections
- the common cold
- Influenza — the Flu
- Mononucleosis, an infectious disease that’s transmitted through saliva
- Measles, an illness that causes a rash and fever
- Chickenpox, an infection that causes a fever and an itchy, bumpy rash
- Mumps, an infection that causes swelling of the salivary glands in the neck
Strep throat and other bacterial infections
Bacterial infections can also cause sore throats. The most common one is strep throat, an infection of the throat and tonsils caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria.
Strep throat causes nearly 40 percent of sore throat cases in children (3). In addition, tonsillitis, and sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia can also cause a sore throat.
Allergies
When the immune system reacts to allergy triggers like pollen, grass, and pet dander, it releases chemicals that cause symptoms like nasal congestion, watery eyes, sneezing, and throat irritation.
Excess mucus in the nose can drip down the back of the throat. This is called postnasal drip and can irritate the throat.
Dry air
Dry air can suck moisture from the mouth and throat, and leave them feeling dry and scratchy. The air is most often dry in the winter months when the heater is running.
Smoke, chemicals, and other irritants
Many different chemicals and other substances in the environment irritate the throat, including:
- Cigarette and other tobacco smoke
- Air pollution
- Cleaning products and other chemicals
Injury
Any injury such as a hit or cut to the neck, can cause pain in the throat. Likewise, getting a piece of food stuck in your throat can also irritate it.
Repeated use strains the vocal cords and muscles in the throat. You can get a sore throat after yelling, talking loudly, or singing for a long period of time.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition in which acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus — the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.
The acid burns the esophagus and throat, causing symptoms like heartburn and acid reflux — the regurgitation of acid into your throat.
Tumor
A tumor of the throat, voice box, or tongue is a less common cause of a sore throat. However, when a sore throat is a sign of cancer, it doesn’t go away after a few days.
Signs & Symptoms of a Sore Throat
A sore throat can feel:
- Scratchy
- Burning
- Raw
- Dry
- Tender
- Irritated
Common infections causing a pediatric sore throat might result in other signs and symptoms, including:
- Fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Body aches
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
Treatment for a Sore Throat
You can treat most sore throats at home. Get plenty of rest to give your immune system a chance to fight the infection.
To relieve the pain of a sore throat:
- Gargle with a mixture of warm water and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt.
- Drink warm liquids that feel soothing to the throat, such as hot tea with honey, soup broth, or warm water with lemon. Herbal teas are especially soothing to a sore throat (5).
- Cool your throat by eating a cold treat like a popsicle or ice cream.
- Suck on a piece of hard candy or a lozenge.
- Turn on a cool mist humidifier to add moisture to the air.
- Rest your voice until your throat feels better.
Over the Counter Medicines
You can take medicines to relieve the pain of a sore throat, or to treat the underlying cause.
Over-the-counter medications that relieve throat pain include:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
- Aspirin
Don’t give Aspirin to children and teenagers, as it’s been linked to a rare but serious condition called Reye’s Syndrome in pediatric patients.
You can also use one or more of these treatments, which work directly on the pain of a sore throat:
- a sore throat spray that contains a numbing antiseptic like phenol, or a cooling ingredient like menthol or eucalyptus
- throat lozenges
- cough syrup
If the sore throat is not relieved using home remedies and over-counter-medicines, make sure to visit our urgent care to be checked and avoid serious infection complications.
Flu
Understanding the Flu
Signs & Symptoms of the Flu
Flu signs and symptoms usually come on suddenly.
People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:
- Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in pediatrics than adults.
Risk Factors of the Flu
People at higher risk of developing flu complications include:
- Pediatrics patients under age 5, and especially those under 2 years
- Adults older than age 65
- Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- Pregnant women and women up to two weeks postpartum
- Those with weakened immune systems
- Individuals who have chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease and diabetes
- People who are very obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher
Treatment for the Flu
Usually, you’ll need nothing more than bed rest and plenty of fluids to treat the flu. However, in some cases, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication, such as Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or Zanamivir (Relenza). If taken soon after you notice symptoms, these drugs may shorten your illness by a day or so and help prevent serious complications.
Oseltamivir is an oral medication. Zanamivir is inhaled through a device similar to an asthma inhaler and shouldn’t be used by anyone with respiratory problems, such as asthma and lung disease.
Antiviral medication side effects may include nausea and vomiting. These side effects may be lessened if the drug is taken with food. Oseltamivir has also been associated with delirium and self-harm behaviors in teenagers.
Some strains of influenza have become resistant to Amantadine and Rimantadine (Flumadine), which are older antiviral drugs.
More reasons to see the doctor for a cough include:
- Productive cough with mucus that is yellow, green, or tan lasting more than a week, or is accompanied by a fever.
- Coughing up blood.
- Short of breath and wheezing.
- Night sweats or fevers at night.
- Whooping cough symptoms, including constant coughing and making a whooping sound when trying to breathe, especially in children under 1 year old.
- A cough lasting more than three weeks.
- A child with a cough and fever over 102 F
- Croup in children
- Infant that is coughing for more than a few hours
Sprains & Strains
Understanding Sprains & Strains
A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament–or the tissue that connects two bones together within your joints. While some sprains are mild and can be treated at home, other more serious injuries may require a visit to the doctor or urgent care.
A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon–tissue that connects your muscle to your bone. These occur most commonly in your back or hamstrings. People often experience muscle strains when playing sports.
Signs & Symptoms of Sprains & Strains
Signs of a sprain may include:
- Swelling
- Pain
- Bruising
- Limited mobility
- Popping sound during injury
Signs of a strain may include:
- Pain
- Muscle Weakness
- Swelling
- Difficulty moving
- Muscle spasms
Complications of Sprains & Strains
With more serious sprains and strains, there’s the possibility of a fractured bone. If you experience severe symptoms, you may need to get an urgent care appointment for a medical evaluation to discern the full extent of your injury.
Additionally, if a sprain or strain isn’t given enough time to heal, you could reinjure your ligament or muscle. Athletes especially need to let their injuries heal for an appropriate amount of time.
Treatment for Sprains & Strains
A common treatment for sprains and strains is called the RICE method.
Rest – Stay off your injury and give it time to heal.
Ice – Apply ice regularly to lessen pain and swelling.
Compression – Wrap your injury in elastic bandages to reduce swelling.
Elevation – Elevate your injury when resting to control swelling.
Over-the-counter pain relievers can control your pain while the injury heals.
If your sprain or strain doesn’t seem to be improving, give Magnolia Family Medicine & Wellness urgent care staff a call to schedule an evaluation and to discuss other treatment methods. Severe injuries may require physical therapy, splinting, or even surgery.
Insurances We Accept
If your insurance is not listed, please give us a call.
- BlueCross BlueShield
- Aetna
- Cigna
- United Healthcare
- Tricare
- Medicare
- TennCare
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