Strep throat is a sore throat that results from a bacterial infection that causes inflammation and pain in the throat. Research from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are approximately 14,000 to 25,000 cases of the invasive group form of the infection each year, and in the last five years between 1,500 to 2,300 people die annually.
This article will provide an overview of strep throat symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. With this information, you will be prepared to recognize the signs of strep throat and to take the necessary steps to get the treatment you need quickly and easily.
Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils that causes inflammation and irritation. Strep throat is very common in children between the ages of 5 and 15, but can affect adults as well.
Strep throat is caused by the streptococcus bacteria, which is highly contagious. If the patient takes antibiotics, they can still be able to spread the infection 24 hours after beginning the medication. If they do not receive treatment, they will remain contagious for up to 3 weeks after getting the infection. Also, the risk of spreading the virus is highest when the patient is sick.
Strep throat is easy to treat with the right medical assistance, but if the condition is ignored and left untreated, it can lead to more serious complications such as rheumatic fever or kidney inflammation. At Urgent Care of the Palm Beaches, our medical professionals are skilled at treating strep throat and offer top-notch treatment for those suffering from it.
If you are concerned that your sore throat might be caused by strep throat, her are some of the common symptoms you need to watch out for to prevent serious complications and the spread of the infection:
In children, the symptoms may include abdominal pain and a reddish rash on the body. Strep throat is commonly spread through direct person-to-person transmission, or if your eyes, nose or mouth are exposed. For children, they often get infected by putting things in their mouths or when teething.
If you suspect you, your child, or someone you know may have strep throat, it is important to visit a medical specialist right away.
Diagnosis of strep throat is based on symptoms, a physical examination, and laboratory tests. The doctor may look for swollen tonsils, redness in the throat, white patches on the throat or tonsils. They also do a throat swab or a rapid strep test which can determine if the infection is caused by strep bacteria.
If the test is negative but the doctor still suspects that you might be infected, they may order a throat culture to confirm the diagnosis. This process involves collecting a sample of cells and fluid from the throat and tonsils. The sample is then examined for the presence of bacteria or other microorganisms that can cause infection or inflammation. It could take 2 to 5 days to receive the results.
In some cases, strep throat can be resolved on its own but a common treatment involves antibiotics. The doctor may prescribe a 10-day course of antibiotics and it is important to take the entire course of prescription even if the symptoms improve. This is to prevent the infection from coming back.
In addition to antibiotics, other treatments may be recommended to relieve the symptoms of strep throat such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce fever and pain. Gargling with warm salt water or a throat spray or lozenge may also be helpful. It is important to drink plenty of fluids to keep the throat moist and reduce pain.
To prevent the spread of the infection in your home:
If you suspect that you or someone you love might have a strep throat infection, it is recommended to seek medical help so that treatment can start as soon as possible.
If you are searching on Google and looking for a “reliable urgent care near me”, look no further. Urgent Care of the Palm Beaches provides high quality and individualized care for patients with suspected strep throat infection seeking consultation, examination, or treatment.
Our clinics are strategically located to provide patients with easy access to our healthcare services. You may visit one of our facilities locations near you:
For any concerns, or to book an appointment in advance, you may contact us at (561) 328-8433.
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The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
However, while this is generally a good thing, it may also make it difficult to determine when it’s time to see a doctor for your abdominal pain. This is because your pain level does not always reflect the seriousness of the condition causing it. In this blog post, your trusted provider of Urgent Care of the Palm Beaches shares the basics of abdominal pain that you need to be aware of.
Many major organs are situated in the abdomen: the small and large intestines, stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix, spleen, and kidneys. Often, an inflammation or disease of any of these organs causes abdominal pain.
When you come in for urgent care due to abdominal pain, one of the first things the medical team will try to find out is the type of pain you are experiencing. By finding this out, they may then determine the possible cause of the pain. This also gives them a starting point for tests and treatments. The most common types of abdominal pain can be described in the following ways:
Generalized abdominal pain means that it affects most of your stomach area. This type of pain is more common for viral gastroenteritis, gas or indigestion. More severe generalized abdominal pain might be caused by a serious condition, such as a blockage of the intestines.
Localized abdominal pain means that the pain is focused in one part of the stomach area. This type of abdominal pain can sometimes be a sign of a problem with an organ, such as the appendix, gallbladder, or stomach.
Cramps can cause severe abdominal pain but most of the time they are not a serious problem. Cramps are often accompanied by diarrhea, gas and bloating.
Colicky abdominal pain comes and goes in waves. This type of abdominal pain can start and end suddenly, and it can often feel sharp and severe. Often, this type of pain can be caused by kidney stones or gallstones.
There are a number of conditions that can cause abdominal pain. However, the main causes are:
Inflammation
Infection
Obstruction or blockage
Abnormal growths, such as tumors and ulcers
Furthermore, a physician will also determine whether your symptoms are caused by infections in the blood, intestines, or throat. These infections can cause bacteria to move into your digestive tract, causing abdominal pain as well as other symptoms, such as diarrhea or constipation.
In general, the less serious and most common causes of abdominal pain and discomfort are the following:
Diarrhea
Constipation
Food allergies
Acid reflux
Gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
Stress
Meanwhile, diseases that largely cause chronic abdominal pain include:
On the other hand, the conditions that typically cause severe acute abdominal pain are:
Organ rupture, a common example of which is a burst appendix
Gallbladder stones and inflammation
Kidney stones and/or infection
Fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath are some of the hallmark symptoms of COVID-19. However, a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology suggested that abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting may also be early indicators of COVID-19.
It’s important to keep in mind that if you experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or a combination of any of those symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have COVID-19. However, it’s wise to pay extra attention to your health and such symptoms at this time. For your peace of mind and safety, it’s best to undergo COVID-19 testing in Palm Beach.
For instance, you might feel severe abdominal pain and cramps due to stomach flu, food poisoning, or even gas, which are all easily treatable especially when attended to immediately. These conditions may even resolve themselves given enough time.
On the other hand, there are more serious and life-threatening conditions, such as appendicitis, that may only cause mild to moderate abdominal discomfort. In some cases, these conditions do not cause any pain at all at their early stages and will only manifest themselves when they’ve already progressed.
Additionally, people describe abdominal pain in different ways. Sometimes, abdominal pain occurs at certain times, such as after meals or at night. All of these details about your abdominal pain provide doctors and medical professionals with important clues about the cause of your abdominal pain.
The key is to know when you need to get immediate medical care, such as at an urgent care center or a hospital emergency room. Sometimes you may only need to call an urgent care center about abdominal pain if the pain is not extreme.
A nurse or doctor can tell you more about what steps to take next, including home care, such as sipping water and other clear fluids. Seek medical attention for abdominal pain that occurs often, lasts more than 24 hours or is accompanied by a fever.
If you or your loved one is experiencing abdominal pain and other symptoms that are causing you worry, discomfort, or inexplicable pain, it’s best that you seek immediate medical care. Urgent Care of the Palm Beaches provides excellent healthcare without the wait, serving you at one of our three convenient locations:
We also offer COVID-19 testing, including rapid COVID testing, to help rule out COVID-19 or determine whether your symptoms may be due to it.
For more information about our medical services, contact us. You may also schedule an appointment online.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
Stuffy nose, problems with breathing, pain in your forehead or behind your eyes, never-ending mucus, and a growing pile of tissues next to your bed. If you have ever experienced it, it means that you have most likely suffered from sinusitis. The good news is that it is treatable and doesn’t require any costly therapies. Home remedies are often enough to fight this condition. Nonetheless, this seemingly harmless issue, when neglected, may lead to some very serious health problems. In today’s article, we explain what the possible complications of an untreated sinus infection are and how to avoid them.
Sinuses are air cavities in the cranial bones. Every human being has four pairs of them; depending on their location, they have different names: frontal, ethmoid (between the eyes), maxillary (in the cheekbones), and sphenoid (behind your nose). Certain types of bacteria, viruses, allergens, or air pollution may infect the sinus cavity and cause inflammation. Inflamed sinuses swell and are no longer capable of properly draining mucus, which results in mucus buildup and nasal congestion. At our walk-in clinic in Palm Beach County, we help patients with both acute and chronic sinusitis. The former condition usually resolves itself, so we only recommend our patients take pain relief medications. The latter one, however, may require an antibiotic.
It may seem that sinusitis belongs to a group of uncomplicated medical conditions, but that can be misleading. Left untreated, it may cause potentially life-threatening consequences. Keep in mind that the worst sinus infections may extend outside the sinus walls, which border major nerves, the eyes, and the brain. We list several possible complications that can result from untreated sinusitis.
Sinuses are located close to the eyes. If the infection spreads to the eye socket, it may cause swelling, vision changes, pus collection or even blindness. Children are especially vulnerable to eye infections as a complication of sinusitis. Their facial bones are still developing and the openings between the sinuses and the eye socket are not yet closed.
In rare cases when the infection keeps spreading through the skull and reaches the brain and spinal fluid, it may lead to meningitis, seizures, permanent brain damage or even death. It is important to immediately contact your physician if you experience headaches, nausea, or fever or if you have lost functioning in any of your body parts as those are the symptoms of meningitis, which requires an urgent antibiotic treatment.
A mucocele is an excessive amount of mucus that has been collecting and expanding in the sinus. They may appear in any of the sinus cavities; however, they tend to occur mostly in the frontal and ethmoid sinuses. Since the pressure from mucoceles may extend to the surrounding structures like the eye or brain, surgical drainage is necessary in many cases.
Osteomyelitis, or a bone infection, is an uncommon, yet serious complication. It occurs when the sinus infection spreads to the bone surrounding the sinus. The treatment of this condition is long and involves intravenous antibiotics which stop the infection from spreading more. In chronic osteomyelitis, a surgery that removes the infected bones is required.
We always encourage anyone who suffers from sinusitis to visit our walk in clinic in Palm Beach County to get proper treatment and rule out the possibility of developing any of the severe complications. Nonetheless, there are many effective and natural ways to avoid sinusitis. Try flushing nasal passages with saline, taking a hot and steamy shower, drinking a lot of water, using a humidifier, or putting a warm compress on the forehead before taking antibiotics. Many cases of sinusitis are caused by viruses, not bacteria, and they should be treated without antibiotics.
If you’ve been suffering from sinusitis, don’t let it bother you anymore. Visit our walk in clinic in Palm Beach today! We will help to open your sinus passages and relieve the pressure that has been contributing to your headaches and other symptoms. Why would you suffer even one more day? Don’t hesitate and contact us today. For your convenience, we are open seven days per week!
This article was written on behalf of the practice by RedCastle Services. RedCastle specializes in Online Marketing for Doctors, including Medical SEO, SEO for doctors, and Medical Website Design. Contact RedCastle Services today to find out how we can help your practice increase its number of online patient referrals.
At the beginning of October of every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta release that year’s new flu shot, specially formulated to prevent the most common projected strains of flu from infecting the population.
Although the flu shot is recommended for everyone over 6 months old, there are a few population subgroups who are especially susceptible to the worst effects of the flu – and for them, the vaccine is necessary.
There are a number of misconceptions about influenza, though, and whether the flu shot is worth it. At Urgent Care Of The Palm Beaches, we aim to dispel the myths and provide reliable information about the importance of the flu shot and how it looks when you get a flu shot at one of our clinic locations: Palm Springs/Forest Hill, West Palm Beach or North Palm Beach.
Individuals with flu may present with the following symptoms: cough, fever and/ or chills, sore throat, runny nose, muscle and body aches, headaches, fatigue, and in some cases even vomiting and diarrhea.
Flu is spread mainly by respiratory droplets, made when people with the flu cough, sneeze, or talk. These droplets can also be found on the surface of the objects that the person with the flu has touched.
Anyone can pass the flu to someone else before they become sick. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others starting a day before the symptoms starts, and up to 5 to 7 days after they become sick.
Flu may start as a simple upper respiratory infection, but can cause serious complications that will include bacterial pneumonia, sinus infection , dehydration ,worsening of chronic conditions, such as, heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
People with asthma ,diabetes ,heart disease, stroke, adults over 65 years of age, pregnant woman, people with HIV or AIDS, cancer, and children younger than five, are at high risk for getting the complications of the influenza.
There are good habits that you can follow that can protect you against flu virus:
Influenza is an upper illness caused by influenza virus. It can cause mild to severe illness and at times lead to death. The best way to prevent influenza is to get a flu shot every year.
So far, The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated every season.
The flu vaccine is recommended annually for all healthy individuals over 6 months of age who are not deathly allergic to one of the components of the vaccine. There are a few subgroups of people who are particularly susceptible to developing complications associated with the flu, including:
It is necessary to get it annually because the most common strains of flu change every year, and so does the composition of the flu injection. To be clear, the annual influenza vaccine does not work like a booster shot – you’ll be vaccinated against different strains of the flu each year.
First, it’s important to understand our bodies’ immune response. When our body encounters a foreign substance – whether it is bacteria, a virus or something innocuous, like pollen – our immune system responds by first identifying the invader (the “antigen”), then producing B lymphocytes to produce antibodies. The antibodies lock onto the antigen and the body’s T-cells then destroy them.
The antibodies then stay in your body to alert it to any attempted return of the antigen. If it reappears, the body is already prepared to fight it before it becomes an infection – which is why we rarely get chicken pox twice, for example.
This is the same way vaccines and antihistamines work. The influenza vaccine contains antigens from the flu but gives them to you in a way that will not infect you; your body, though, learns to recognize the antigen and is prepared to fight it in case it tries to return.
Getting your flu shot in at Urgent Care of The Palm Beaches ensures that you are protected against the flu. The yearly flu shot is typically effective in reducing the risk of flu in the general population by 40% to 60%, according to the CDC.[1]
For most people, getting the flu isn’t life-threatening. You might be laid up for a few days with fever, cough and sore throat. But the subgroups listed above – and those who are unable to get the vaccine for other health reasons – are at risk of complications including minor things like sinus and ear infections, to worse things, like bacterial pneumonia, inflammation of the heart or brain, or even death.
It turns out that there are between 140,000 and 710,000 hospitalizations a year for flu and between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths, according to the CDC.[2]
Some people will have what appears to be an immune response – they may get a fever, or nausea the body learns what antigens are present and formulates the appropriate antibodies – but most people will feel no different, although their body is now better prepared to fight the flu.
Getting the flu vaccine will help you keep the most severe symptoms at bay should you get the flu, but more importantly – it means that those who cannot get the vaccine are still protected thanks to herd immunity. And in case you’re wondering, there are no links between autism and the flu vaccine.
The best time for getting a flu shot should be early in the season ideally in October. Getting vaccinated after that can be protective also as long as the flu viruses are circulating.
Everyone six months of age and older should get flu shot every season.
It’s never too late to get a flu shot. Even if the season lasts from October to May, you can truly get it any time. So make it painless at any of our locations - in Palm Springs/Forest Hill, West Palm Beach, North Palm Beach – come to Urgent Care of The Palm Beaches and get your flu shot today!
You can get a flu vaccine in Palm Beach County at any number of clinics, but at Urgent Care of The Palm Beaches, there’s no need to make an appointment – you can just stop in any time we are open and get your flu shot. We are committed to ensuring that getting inoculated against the flu doesn’t have to be painful or inconvenient.
Getting your flu shot in one of our clinic locations in Palm Beach County looks like this:
To minimize absenteeism, employers should consider hosting a flu vaccination clinic in the workplace.
Urgent Care of the Palm Beaches does provide such services per request of employers. Please contact us via email at (admin@myucpb.com), call us at 561-429-6109 and ask to talk to our medical director, or go to our website for more information. We provide on-site education and vaccination for our local employers no matter how large or small the employers may be!
Thank you
Urgent care of the Palm Beaches - Your Partner in Health
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
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