400 Promenade Wy Ste 1500, Sugar Land, TX 77478, United States

Cold and Flu

Have you been sneezing all day? Feeling feverish too?

Is it a cold? Is it the flu? Or is it COVID?

Colds and flu are both respiratory illnesses that primarily affect the upper respiratory tract. While they share some common symptoms, such as congestion and sore throat, significant differences in their severity and treatment necessitate careful diagnosis and management

Still confused? Worry Not! Southwest Urgent Care is here to help you understand your symptoms and treat your troubling condition precisely.

Visit us today and breathe a sigh of relief!

Urgent Care for Cold and Flu Symptoms

Each year millions of people contract cold and flu infections! Don’t worry if you are one of them; at Southwest Urgent Care, with a few tests and an in-depth synopsis, we can help you recover faster!

Common colds and flu can make you feel sick and tired, making it difficult to perform simple daily tasks. While they usually cause mild to moderate symptoms, they can also cause severe illnesses that lead to chronic health problems in some cases.

Our team is working 365 days a year to serve your medical needs! Choose a way that is convenient for you and get the required urgent care for your cold or flu symptoms.

Symptoms and Causes: Cold, Flu, and COVID-19

As complicated as it might seem, some distinguishing symptoms are the first thing that will help you differentiate between a cold, flu, or COVID-19.

Before deciding how to treat a condition, we need to understand some things about the common cold and flu. So let’s try to understand some key points about what the flu is. And what exactly is cold? And what is the difference between a cold and the flu?

What is the flu?

The flu or Influenza is a respiratory illness of the upper respiratory system, nose, and throat but can also infect the lungs.

Flu is caused by influenza A or B viruses. Flu causes more complications than a common cold and may lead to severe conditions that might end in a person being hospitalized or even cause death.

Some common symptoms of the flu include:

Runny nose
Sore throat
Fever
Cough
Body or muscle aches
Chills
Fatigue
Headache

In severe cases, the flu causes additional problems like:

Vomiting or diarrhea
Sinus and ear infections
Pneumonia
Sepsis

The good news is that flu can usually be avoided with a vaccine. Getting the flu shot decreases the risk of catching the flu or influenza by almost 60%.

Try to stay healthy this flu season by getting yourself and your family vaccinated via easy-on-visit flu shots available at Southwest Urgent Care.

What is a Common Cold?

The common cold, as the name suggests, is the most common infectious disease among human beings!

A cold is a viral, contagious, and/or infectious disease that affects the upper respiratory system. Colds are generally caused by several different viruses that inflame the membranes that line the nose and throat. The most common virus that causes colds is the rhinovirus.

It’s difficult to ignore or ignore symptoms that make you feel tired. Even though one might not feel it, a cold is typically milder than the flu and is usually harmless. Antibiotics will not treat cold symptoms because viruses are the cause of them.

Some common symptoms include:

Sneezing
Watery eyes
Laryngitis
Runny or stuffy nose
Sore throat
Coughing
Mucus dripping down throat from post-nasal drip
Fever (usually in kids)

What is COVID-19?

The disease caused by the SARS-CoV, Coronavirus, or COVID-19 viruses, which emerged in December 2019, caused irreversible losses to humanity.

Since COVID-19, it has now become even more important to see a

healthcare provider to evaluate your symptoms, as ignorance can have deadly effects.

The good news is that COVID-19 testing is now easily available and is the safest and most convenient way to evaluate the overlapping symptoms of a cold, the flu, and COVID itself.

The most common symptoms include:

fever
cough
tiredness
loss of taste or smell

Some of the less common symptoms associated with COVID-19 include:

sore throat
Aches and pains
diarrhea
a rash or discoloration on the skin.
red or irritated eyes

Similarities Between The Flu and COVID-19

Flu, influenza, and COVID-19 are triggered by different viruses, but one cannot ignore some prominent similarities in the symptoms, diagnosis, and prognosis processes and the way both of them work or get treated.

The following are some of the most common parallels:

Both are contagious illnesses.
Usually have similar symptoms.
Leading to severe complications. (In some cases, death)
Availability of preventive vaccines or shots

Just as it is said, the correct diagnosis is three-fourths the remedy!

Getting COVID-19 and flu diagnostic tests will help you take the first step toward a healthier life.

Southwest Urgent Care has been with you in the most difficult times faced by our world and is still readily available and serving you with all our resources.

We offer COVID-19 testing. Evaluations are available in-center and virtually, depending on your location and reason for testing.

Treatment for Cold and Flu

Once diagnosed correctly, most colds and the flu can be effectively treated with some at-home self-care, precautions, lifestyle changes, and medication. Our body needs to fight off the virus, and for that, resting, napping, and a proper night’s sleep work best. Some of the ways cold and flu symptoms could be treated include:

Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, juice, or other fluids helps prevent dehydration.
Use of warm liquids to release congestion
Resting and sleeping
Add moisture to the air by using a humidifier to avoid congestion.
Saltwater gargles
Throat lozenges
Home remedies such as honey to soothe coughs and sore throats.

The level of symptom and severity differs with every individual, and so depending on the condition, a treatment plan might be suggested.

Unlike a common cold, which has no specific treatment, the flu is curable and can be treated with antiviral medication. The cold usually goes away on its own in about 7 days, but the flu needs to be controlled by medication.

Don’t panic if your illness isn’t allowing you to go to the clinic because of all the laziness caused by the cold and flu. Get connected to one of the providers now from the comfort of your home via a virtual visit facility at Southwest Urgent Care!

Cold and Flu Relief Medications

Self-prescription is never appreciated or suggested at Southwest Urgent Care. Also, there is no proof of a single best medicine available for adults regarding colds and flu. Some medications that you may want to keep handy during the cold and flu season include:

Antihistamines:

Cetirizine, Diphenhydramine, Fexofenadine, and Loratadine

Cough suppressants:

Dextromethorphan

Decongestants:

Pseudoephedrine, Phenylephrine

Pain relievers and fever reducers:

Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen

Note: All medicines should be taken as per the doctor’s suggestions and treatment plan.

If your symptoms do not improve or continue to worsen, please visit your nearest urgent care center or contact a virtual provider.

Cold and Flu in Children

Your child won’t stop playing with his or her sick friend? Well, that’s because of how the kids are!

As badly as the flu and cold impact elders and seem to drain energy, with children, it’s even harder. Children are usually not able to correctly explain their symptoms, and at times the illness gets ignored, aggregated, and/or transferred to other kids. Furthermore, because of the close connections children form with one another in playgrounds or schools, they are more susceptible to colds and flu than adults!

Parents should always keep an eye on the symptoms to ensure that their children recover quickly from respiratory illnesses.

Cold and Flu Symptoms in Children

Adults and children have similar symptoms of the cold and flu. But some symptoms are more common in children. Below are some common and uncommon symptoms of the flu and cold in kids:

Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhea
No urination for over 8 hours
Lethargicness
Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing
Retractions while inhaling
Tickly throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Sneezing

Seeing your child ill is very difficult for any parent. One gets overwhelmed while trying to help make their little one feel comfortable or better.

Southwest Urgent Care is capable of handling children of all ages. Our pediatricians will make sure your baby is well taken care of and will be feeling better soon.

Treatment and Guidelines for Children with the Cold and Flu

We know you are worried for your child, and it’s natural!

The team of our well-trained staff and expert providers here at Southwest Urgent Care is capable of diagnosing and providing treatment for your kids’ illnesses.

Below are some conductive options and guidelines that may make your child feel comfortable while suffering from a cold or flu:

Prescription of children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen by a doctor
Nasal drops as per the doctor’s prescription
Use of a humidifier
Use of nebulizer
Keeping a child’s hydration level up
Use of mentholated rubs
Cough drops
Making sure the child rests and sleeps while ill
Gargle with salt water.
Use of honey

Above mentioned points is all part of a child’s treatment plan but in some cases, a child is to be taken to the nearest facility if the symptoms get severe.

Other Cold and Flu-Related Conditions Treated at Southwest Urgent Care

Some other respiratory infections are also diagnosed and treated at Southwest Urgent Care.

These illnesses or diseases get confused and mixed up with common cold or flu symptoms and lead to serious conditions in patients suffering from them. The list includes:

Asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Food allergies
Laryngitis
Bronchitis
Mononucleosis
Seasonal allergies
Sinusitis
Strep throat

With accurate diagnoses, we can make you feel better more rapidly. Schedule a walk-in at our clinic or fix a virtual visit, and don’t wait for your symptoms to get worse!