Urgent care centers are a great resource if you need immediate medical attention but are not sick enough to go to the emergency room. For example, you can go to urgent care if you are experiencing severe flu symptoms. So, what exactly are the types of symptoms that would necessitate a trip to urgent care?
Specific and Pinpointed Pain
Aches and pains are typical flu symptoms, and you can often distinguish the discomfort as muscle pains. Headaches can occur too, and so can mild chest and abdominal discomfort. However, if you feel pinpointed or sharp pain, then you should seek help from an urgent care. The pinpointed pain may be a sign of an infection.
In fact, what you may think is the flu might be something more serious like a kidney, bladder, pancreatic, or gallbladder infection. Many of these conditions have flu-like symptoms including vomiting, nausea, dizziness, fever, and headaches. The location of the pain will help the physician figure out what might be going on.
Pinpointed pain located along the abdominal area may also be a sign of food poisoning instead of the flu. IV fluids may be necessary on a short term basis if this is suspected and a stool sample also may be tested to diagnose your condition.
Increased Respiratory Rate
Most people will breathe at a rate of up to 16 breaths per minute. Your breathing rate may increase a little bit if you have the flu due to the increase in your metabolism. However, you should not be experiencing a breathing rate greater than 20 or 24 breaths for a long period of time. If the breathing rate increases and you find that it is hard to breathe, then you should seek medical care.
An increased breathing rate can be attributed to the buildup of mucus in the airways, inflammation of the bronchi, or fluid inside the lungs. The urgent care can give you medicines to open the lungs or suction out excess fluid. In addition, they may give you oxygen to ensure that your body is getting what it needs.
Breathing problems can get very serious in a short period of time, so do not hesitate to go directly to an urgent care once you notice a breathing issue.
Urgent care centers can help you with your flu symptoms, so contact an office like West Ocean City Injury & Illness Center if you think that you need professional medical care.