AA-Choo…!

Have you been sneezing all day? Feeling feverish too? So, 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. Both diseases have some common overlapping symptoms, but some significant dissimilarities between both infections cannot be ignored during the prognosis.

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

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.

Children and Colds and Flu

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.