Illness has no respect for anything — certainly not for the time of day it shows up. Evenings and weekends are fair game.
That’s why our Primary Care Walk-In Medical Clinic is open seven days a week at four locations: Gilbert, Fountain Hills, Mesa, and Scottsdale, Arizona. Our providers, Dr. Pankaj Chopra and Dr. Neha Maheshwari, diagnose and treat many common infections and other problems for patients who come through our doors at all hours.
Here, we discuss five common infections we test for and treat in our walk-in clinic.
Here are five common types of infections we see at our clinic.
The common cold is a mild infection of the upper respiratory tract (including the nose and throat). Over 200 different viruses can cause a cold, but rhinoviruses are the most common class and are very contagious.
The infection spreads from person to person through droplets in the air from a sneeze or cough and close personal contact. You can also become infected when you touch something with the virus and then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose.
The virus usually runs its course in 7-10 days. You can relieve symptoms with rest, plenty of fluids, gargling with warm salt water, using a humidifier, and taking over-the-counter cold medicines. There is no cure.
Influenza is also a virus. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people also may have vomiting and diarrhea. It’s also possible to have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
We treat the flu with antiviral medications, which make the illness milder and the duration shorter and help prevent serious complications.
Flu antivirals work best when taken within two days of getting sick, but taking them later can still be helpful, especially if you’re at high risk of severe illness or are already very sick.
Infectious mononucleosis is a viral infection that causes fever, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. It’s generally caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or, less commonly, by cytomegalovirus (CMV).
The virus spreads when someone comes in contact with an infected person’s saliva. It spreads by kissing or sharing things like cups, straws, toothbrushes, or toys.
Young children typically have mild symptoms, such as a slight fever, fatigue, and poor appetite. Teens may have more symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, and be so tired and weak they stay in bed longer than a week. Mono symptoms usually disappear on their own after a few weeks.
Strep throat is an infection of the throat and tonsils (lymph node tissue) caused by a type of bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep). It causes severe inflammation and painful scratchiness. We can diagnose the infection either with a rapid strep test or a throat culture. Treatment is usually a course of antibiotics.
A UTI is when bacteria get into your urinary tract: kidneys, bladder, or urethra. The infection causes itching, burning, and painful urination. About 60% of women and 12% of men develop one or more UTIs during their lifetime. UTIs can usually be treated with antibiotics.
Do you have an infection or another medical problem after hours? The Primary Care Walk-In Clinic provides prompt medical care. You can walk in, call us at any of our locations, or book an appointment online.
