So, you or someone in your house woke up with a case of the sniffles. Or maybe a tickle in the throat, a stuffy nose, or the beginnings of a cough.
It could be a little bug. Or, it could be a cold…or even the dreaded flu!
No worries. If you or a loved one are experiencing cold and flu symptoms, you don’t have to suffer in silence or weather the storm alone.
Here’s when you should go to an urgent care clinic and where you can find one.
Cold and Flu Symptoms: What to Watch For
Both the cold and the flu can seem similar, especially at the beginning of an illness.
In general, cold symptoms pop up above the neck. These signs include:
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Slight swelling in the neck
- Nasal congestion
You may also feel minor aches and pains.
Flu symptoms can occur above or below the neck. In addition to the cold symptoms, the flu also brings with it:
- Chills
- Weakness and/or fatigue
- Headaches
- Moderate to severe full-body aches and pains
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Temperature over 100°F
- Chest cough
(If you experience those symptoms and shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and loss of taste and/or smell, you may have COVID, so be sure to get that checked out!)
When to Go to an Urgent Care Clinic
So, when should you seek care, and where should you go?
As soon as you notice symptoms, we recommend taking a visit to an urgent care clinic. A provider can give you a diagnosis and help you figure out the treatment path going forward.
In general, colds often run their course without medical intervention. You can take over-the-counter medications for your symptoms and wait it out with plenty of rest and fluids. Your symptoms will be at their worst usually for the first 3-4 days, and will gradually taper off from there.
Most colds resolve within 10 days, but if symptoms persist, you should seek care from a provider.
For the flu, seeking care is recommended because this illness can deteriorate quickly into something more serious (especially for older, pregnant, or immuno-compromised patients.) Your provider may prescribe anti-viral medications, which work best when given in the earliest stages of the illness.
If you’re experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, please call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest emergency room.
Finding an Urgent Care Clinic Near Leeds
If you’re in the Leeds and Moody area and want to have that nasty bug taken care of, then MainStreet has you covered.
Our urgent care clinic location is 2211 Moody Parkway, Moody, AL, 35004. We’re just a block away from the Publix on Hwy 411.
Here, you’ll find a wide range of services, from cold and flu treatment and other urgent care needs to preventative care, primary care, lab tests, sports and annual physicals, and more.
We’re open 7 days a week. Register online to save your spot in line – and get quick access to convenient care for the entire family.
Having a cold or the flu isn’t fun, but with our help, you’ll heal and feel better – FAST!
