Top Reasons for Urgent Care Visits

Top Reasons for Urgent Care Visits Tampa FL

The team at South Tampa Immediate Care sees patients every day at our urgent care center in Tampa, Florida. We’re pleased to offer treatments for a wide variety of non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. As you might expect, some of these conditions are more common than others.

Here are some of the top reasons for urgent care visits:

Respiratory Illnesses

Respiratory illnesses can affect different parts of the respiratory tract—the nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs. These illnesses, which tend to ebb and flow with the seasons, bring more people to urgent care centers each year than any other illness or injury. Symptoms include nasal congestion, a runny nose, a sore throat, coughing, wheezing, fever, headaches, and body aches.

Some common respiratory illnesses include:

  • The common cold – An upper respiratory infection is called the common cold for a good reason: On average, adults in the U.S. experience two or three colds per year. No other illness is responsible for so much missed work and school.
  • Sore throats – Throat pain can result from a viral infection or a bacterial infection, such as strep. Only a medical professional can determine the cause, which is important to ensure proper treatment. Antibiotics, which may be necessary to resolve a bacterial infection, will have no effect on a viral infection.
  • Bronchitis – An inflammation of the bronchial tubes that carry air to the lungs, bronchitis often causes persistent coughing. Acute bronchitis is typically brought on by a cold or another virus, while chronic bronchitis involves constant inflammation, usually caused by smoking.
  • Seasonal influenza – Flu season usually peaks between December and March. The symptoms of this highly contagious respiratory illness can be similar to those of a cold, but they can be much more severe. A medical professional can tell the difference.
  • Sinus infections – Sinusitis occurs when the sinuses become inflamed due to a buildup of mucus, which can fuel the growth of germs. Sinus infections often accompany other respiratory illnesses.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

A UTI develops when harmful bacteria enter the urinary tract—which consists of the urethra, ureters, bladder, and kidneys—and cause inflammation. Symptoms include burning during urination, a persistent urge to urinate, passing small amounts of urine, cloudy or odorous urine, and pelvic pain.

UTIs are very common, especially among women due to their anatomy. A woman’s urethra is much shorter—and therefore much closer to the anus—than a man’s urethra. Also, a woman’s urethra is situated close to her vagina, which can collect bacteria during sexual activity. As such, bacteria from a woman’s anus and vagina have relatively easy access to her urinary tract.

Sprains & Strains

A sprain occurs when a ligament—a short band of flexible tissue that connects bone and cartilage—is overstretched or torn. When it’s a muscle or tendon that’s overstretched or torn, the condition is called a strain. Usually, both types of injuries occur around joints and produce similar symptoms, such as swelling, tenderness, and an inability to bear weight on the affected joint. Sprains and strains can be difficult to differentiate from fractures, and therefore warrant prompt medical attention, which may include an X-ray.

If you’re feeling under the weather, it’s best to find out exactly what’s going on—and sooner rather than later. Come to South Tampa Immediate Care in Tampa, FL. Our caring team is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Stop by at your convenience, or join our virtual waiting room by texting “immediate care” to (626) 414-3210.