Illnesses

What is an acute illness?

Acute illnesses are short-term diseases, many of which are spread from person to person. These illnesses typically cause mild to moderate symptoms but have a short duration: Many of them go away even if you don’t receive treatment. However, treatment is available to rid you of certain infections. 

Heacock Urgent Care encourages you to come in if you have acute illness symptoms, such as nausea, sore throat, coughing, a fever, or nasal congestion. Symptoms of an acute illness may seem to appear out of nowhere and worsen very quickly. 

These symptoms tend to come from acute illnesses, though chronic illnesses may be considered if the team rules out acute possibilities. Diagnostic testing with blood tests, swab tests, or urinalysis can tell the team more about the illness affecting you. 

What are some of the most common acute illnesses?

Heacock Urgent Care has the resources to diagnose and manage many of the most prevalent acute illnesses. They can provide treatment or advise you on how to manage:

• Colds
• Flu
• Sinus infections
• Ear infections
• Strep throat
• Dehydration
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• COVID-19

You can get sick with an acute illness at any time of year, though infections like the flu tend to become more prevalent during the colder months when people are indoors and spend more time closer together.

How is an acute illness treated?

Most acute illnesses respond well to mild treatment, though many of them go away with no treatment at all. Heacock Urgent Care provides testing to confirm your diagnosis before the team treats you or recommends home care. 

Your acute illness may be treated with:

• Antibiotics
• Antiviral medications
• Pain relievers or fever reducers
• Antihistamines
• Humidifier
• Rest
• Drinking plenty of fluids

If your illness is contagious, Heacock Urgent Care advises you to stay home from school, work, and social activities until you’ve completed treatment. You should also wear a mask if you must go into public with a communicable illness like COVID-19, even if you don’t have symptoms. 

Call Heacock Urgent Care, schedule an assignment online, or walk in right away to receive care for your acute illness today.