Common Respiratory Illnesses Treated in Tampa, FL

Are you stuffed up, weak, exhausted, and just plain miserable? Common respiratory illnesses such as a cold or flu can make you feel that way. Most likely, your symptoms will run their course within a few days. Until then, you should rest comfortably at home, which will not only help you feel better but also reduce the chance of spreading your illness to others.

Although most common respiratory illnesses are not a cause for concern, they often produce symptoms that are similar to those of more serious conditions, such as pneumonia and COVID-19.* So, when should you seek professional medical attention? At South Tampa Immediate Care in Tampa, Florida, we encourage you to visit our urgent care center if:

You Can’t Keep Any Food Down

Your body needs adequate water and nutrients to perform its vital functions. If you have a fever or severe diarrhea, or if you are vomiting frequently, you can quickly lose more fluids than you take in. Some signs of dehydration include extreme thirst, dry mouth, dizziness, infrequent urination, and dark-colored urine. If you think you may be dehydrated, you should promptly see a health care provider who can help you replace lost fluids and nutrients.

You Can’t Seem to Catch Your Breath

Common respiratory illnesses are notorious for causing nasal congestion and stuffiness. However, a cold or flu should not cause breathing difficulty. Shortness of breath or wheezing could indicate a more serious issue, so you should see a medical professional who can get to the bottom of your illness right away.

You Can’t Kick Your Fever

As your body’s immune system works hard to fight off an infection, you may develop a fever, and that’s usually a good sign. But, a fever caused by a run-of-the-mill cold or bout with the flu should be relatively brief and mild. If your fever lingers, it could be a sign that your body is battling something more serious than a common respiratory illness.

You Feel Lousy for More Than 10 Days

If it’s been two weeks and you still don’t feel any better, or if you started to feel better but then suddenly began to feel a whole lot worse, you should see a medical professional who can figure out what’s going on.

You’re Simply Uneasy

If you’re concerned about your health for any reason, South Tampa Immediate Care is here for you. At our urgent care center in Tampa FL, our experienced team provides diagnostic and treatment services for common respiratory illnesses on a walk-in basis. If you’d like, you can also enter our waiting room remotely.

*If you believe you were exposed to COVID-19 or are exhibiting symptoms such as fever, persistent coughing, and shortness of breath, please call us at (813) 253-2113 or request a telemedicine appointment to receive personalized medical advice.