Are you experiencing upsetting symptoms but are unsure whether you should wait or contact a medical professional? Perhaps you’re undecided about whether you should seek urgent medical care or emergency medical care.
Here’s the difference between the two: Urgent care focuses on treating conditions and injuries that aren’t life-threatening but need medical attention within 24 hours. Emergency care focuses on life-threatening injuries and conditions that need immediate care. If you’re at risk of losing a limb, for example, you should seek emergency care.
In an urgent care center, you’ll find medical professionals trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of medical conditions and injuries, from the flu to wounds that require stitches. In an emergency center, you’ll find medical professionals trained to treat serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes and perform complex surgeries.
Still unsure if urgent care is the best solution for your medical problem? We asked our specialist, Dr. Rakesh Chugh, for the answer. Read on to find out just a few of the situations when urgent care is necessary.
Allergy symptoms
Allergy symptoms themselves aren’t life-threatening. However, if left untreated, they can lead to complications. For example, chronic rhinitis can lead to ear infections, inflammation, and swelling.
In an urgent care center, you can get your allergies under control and get tested for several allergens at one time.
Sore throat
A sore throat usually goes away on its own with plenty of rest and liquids. However, if your symptoms persist more than a few days, it could be a sign that your body needs help fighting a virus or bacterial infection.
While not life-threatening, when left untreated a sore throat can lead to complications that may force you to miss several days of work or school.
Rashes
Rashes can be caused by chronic skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis or by viruses and bacterial infections.
When a rash affects the eye area or is accompanied by symptoms such as headaches, difficulty breathing, high fever, or signs of infection, prompt medical care is recommended.
Persistent cough
Coughing can occur due to allergic reactions, colds, or the flu, but it can become problematic when it’s accompanied by breathing difficulties, fever, and thick phlegm.
If your cough lasts more than a week and doesn’t respond to over-the-counter treatment, you may need to seek urgent care.
Getting needed urgent care
Don’t wait for your symptoms or injuries to worsen before seeking urgent medical attention.
Contact us by phone or online to get prompt urgent care at our office in Tinley Park, Illinois.