Urgent care conditions

The best way to treat a bacterial infection is usually antibiotics, since they kill the bacteria or stop it from growing and multiplying.

Your medical expert will assess you and take into account:

• The most likely type of bacteria in question
• The action of the antibiotic
• The most effective way to administer the antibiotic

We know that sickness can interfere with your and your family's lives. Our specialists provide compassionate care with diagnosis and treatment for the flu, colds, fevers, respiratory infections, bronchitis and walking pneumonia.

In most cases with a cold, your symptoms will subside on their own. Once your physician talks through your signs and symptoms, they may prescribe you a blood test or throat culture to eliminate possible root causes.

Once you have experienced flu symptoms, you should see an MD Now® provider. To confirm if you have the flu, your physician may administer a flu test.

Oftentimes, bronchitis and pneumonia are confused with one another. Although seemingly similar, since both involve constant cough, there are some important differences.

With bronchitis, in addition to your cough, you may hear a whistling noise as you breathe. You may also have a hoarse voice. There is no current treatment for bronchitis, but your medical expert may recommend some remedies, including:

• Cough medicines (to manage your symptoms)
• Drinking lots of fluids
• Over-the-counter medications (to lower fever)
• Resting

Pneumonia, on the other hand, is treatable with antibiotics.

A cough can also be an indicator of the common cold, and your medical specialist will be able to support you in treating your symptoms.

Staying hydrated is essential to health. Since severe dehydration can be life-threatening, you should go to our closest clinic if you experience any of the following:

• A decrease in urination
• A dry or sticky mouth
• Extreme thirst
• Headache
• Muscle cramps
• Urine that appears dark and concentrated
• You stop perspiring

Depending on your state, our medical experts are trained to treat you and help hydrate you.

Acute diarrhea lasts less than two weeks. Chronic diarrhea lasts longer than four weeks, and usually indicates a more serious problem. Avoid over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen, as these can actually worsen abdominal pain. Mild diarrhea can usually be treated at home.

If nausea or vomiting happen shortly after a meal, they could be linked to food poisoning, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) or an ulcer. Other causes of acute nausea include pain, morning sickness, medication side effects, alcohol toxicity, viral infections, motion sickness and many others.

Sometimes with excessive vomiting, a migraine or headache can occur. Most people feel a throbbing pain on only one side of the head during a migraine. For severe migraines, our providers can treat you acutely and may prescribe medicines, such as nasal sprays, rectal suppositories or injections. Some medicines treat headaches with vomiting, as well as nausea.

Your doctor may diagnose you with a dislocated shoulder if you are experiencing:

• A shoulder that appears visibly deformed or out of place
• Inability to move the affected shoulder
• Intense shoulder pain
• Swelling or bruising

If your provider finds that your shoulder is dislocated and you exhibit the above symptoms, they may try manipulating it back into place. After this, they may recommend your shoulder sit in a sling so it can be immobile and have time to heal. In addition, they may recommend medication to help with your pain, and if severe, they may recommend surgery or rehabilitation.

If you are experiencing a burn, your provider will be able to diagnose you with a first-degree, second-degree or third-degree burn.

Treatment will depend on your burn's location and its level of damage. For severe burns, your treatment may include:

• Assistance with breathing and feeding
• Intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration
• Medications for pain and infection control
• Reconstructive surgery
• Skin grafts
• Special dressings and therapies to stimulate healing

You should seek emergency medical treatment for any of the following:

• Any burn affecting the airway or that causes difficulty breathing
• Any burn caused by electricity or chemicals
• Any burn that appears deep or that has the characteristics of a third-degree burn
• Burns that affect the face, hands, feet, groin or major joints
• Burns that cover large portions of the body

Rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medications can usually treat the pain caused by a minor shoulder strain or sprain. Using a sling or going to physical therapy may also be recommended, depending on the severity of your injury.

Skin rashes have many different causes, so it's important to know when you need to see a doctor.

Acne

Acne can leave permanent scars without treatment. To determine the treatment you need, your provider will need to identify the type of acne you have. They will do this by evaluating your skin and asking questions about your acne symptoms.

Depending on the type of acne your provider identifies, they may recommend medical skin care to help.

Dermatitis

Your physician's recommended treatment for dermatitis may target relieving common symptoms, such as dry, itchy skin or rash over reddened, swollen skin. Additional treatment may be recommended for:

• Blistering
• Contact dermatitis (caused by allergies)
• Crusting
• Dandruff from your scalp
• Flaking
• Oozing

Eczema

Since there is no known cure for eczema, your physician may recommend treatment and self-care remedies to help with itching relief and outbreak prevention.

Psoriasis

Treatment of psoriasis depends on the severity of the condition. It can be treated either:

• Systemically (affecting the entire body)
• With medical skincare (such as topical treatments)

Less severe cases of psoriasis may be managed with the help of topical corticosteroids and emollients. In addition, alternative therapies commonly recommended include fish oil, aloe vera and Oregon grape. Treatment for severe psoriasis, however, might involve a combination of light therapy with drugs your specialist prescribes.

For other rashes and skin conditions, although most clear up in a timely manner on their own, your provider may recommend more long-term treatment, such as medicated creams, shampoos and ointments.

It's essential to differentiate a sore throat from other illnesses, such as strep throat, to determine the appropriate treatment.

The course of your treatment will be determined by the cause of your infection. Most sore throats are a result of viral infection, while others are caused by:

• Croup
• Laryngitis
• Strep (group A)
• Tonsillitis
• Cancer

After diagnosing the cause of your sore throat, your urgent care physician will either prescribe a treatment or refer you to a suitable specialist.

Strep throat (streptococcal sore throat)

To distinguish between a sore throat caused by a viral infection and strep throat, your provider will administer a strep test by swabbing your throat.

You may receive a prescription for antibiotics to help quicken your recovery and stop the infection if your rapid test confirms strep throat. However, if the initial test is negative, a follow-up test, such as a DNA test or lab culture, may be administered to verify your result.

Your provider will discuss your symptoms with you to determine which UTI test to take. If your symptoms indicate a UTI, treatment may help the infection from spreading to your kidneys.

Our clinics test and diagnose UTIs by:

• Analyzing a urine sample
• Growing a urine culture in a lab
• Creating images via ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan or an intravenous pyelogram (IVP)

In addition to these tests, your physician may ask about:

• Allergies
• Current medications to treat other conditions
• Current supplements or medications
• Duration of UTI symptoms
• Medical history regarding UTIs

If you are pregnant, you should let your physician know. This information will help your doctor evaluate the most effective treatments for you and your body.

Antibiotics are the most common treatment for a UTI in both women and men. The type of antibiotic will be determined by the information you share and the bacteria causing your infection.

Our clinics offer services for children over 3 months of age. Some of the conditions we treat include:

Balanitis

Balanitis is an infection involving the tip of the penis and the foreskin. It normally occurs in uncircumcised male babies and children, but it can occur in uncircumcised males of any age.

Signs and symptoms of balanitis can include:

• Inability to retract the foreskin
• Itching
• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling

If you suspect that your child has a balanitis infection, our medical experts can recommend the appropriate treatment.

Candida infection

Candida is a yeast that lives naturally inside and outside your body. Candida infections occur when the yeast grows out of balance.

Depending on the type, location and severity of the infection, most candida infections can be treated with antifungal creams, ointments, rinses or medications.

Thrush is another name for a candida infection of the mouth. For mouth and tongue candida infections, one of our professionals can recommend the appropriate thrush treatment, such as nystatin, fluconazole or clotrimazole.

Diaper rash

Almost all babies experience a diaper rash at some point.

You should go to an urgent care clinic if you notice any of the following:

• The rash worsens or does not improve within a couple of days.
• Your child seems sluggish or develops a fever.
• You notice a red rash with white lesions or scales, which may indicate a yeast infection.

You notice yellow, fluid-filled bumps that develop a honey-colored crust. This may indicate a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics.

Phimosis

Phimosis is a condition in which the glans and foreskin of the penis remain connected so that the foreskin cannot be retracted. It is very common in uncircumcised male babies and toddlers for the foreskin to remain attached during the first few years of life, but most cases resolve naturally by about age three.

Treatments include medications to manage infections and surgical procedures to remove or release the foreskin.

You don't have to wait to receive compassionate, high-quality healthcare. We offer professional services for every stage of a woman's life, typically in one hour or less.

Our services include:

• Confidential sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing
• Minor dermatology and skincare
• Pregnancy testing
• Preventative screenings
• Thyroid screenings

We built treatment plans for the following conditions:

• Folliculitis
• Hemorrhoids and anal fissures
• UTIs and kidney infections
• Vaginal issues