Urgent care conditions

Urgent care is a fast, effective option when you don't have immediate access to your primary care physician. Common conditions treated include cold, flu, burns, rashes, sore throat and minor injuries and infections. If you are experiencing a serious medical emergency, please call 911.

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Conditions treated at our urgent care clinics

Our providers can treat you and your family for many conditions, including the flu, strep throat, acid reflux and allergies.

At CareNow® urgent care centers, we are happy to provide individualized support when life throws unexpected illnesses and injuries your way. Our compassionate specialists always prioritize your comfort and well-being.

Related specialties

Learn more about our related specialties.

Urinary tract infection

Conditions needing immediate care

If you and your family are dealing with nausea, headaches, cuts or stings, our specialists are here to take care of you.

Acid reflux

Acid reflux happens when stomach acid flows up your food pipe, or esophagus. A common symptom is heartburn, which produces a burning sensation in your chest or throat. The strong acid your stomach uses to digest food damages the esophagus lining and causes pain.

When acid reflux is frequent, the condition is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD.) This can lead to serious problems and should be treated medically.

Treatments for acid reflux

Mild heartburn can be treated with over-the-counter antacids and lifestyle changes, such as:

Avoiding foods, drinks and medications that trigger heartburn
Avoiding lying down right after eating
Eating smaller meals
Stopping smoking

Occasional reflux is not serious, but frequent reflux could be GERD. Consult a healthcare provider if you have symptoms more than twice a week. Treatment options include:

Medications to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces
Medications to strengthen the muscles in your esophagus
Surgery to strengthen the muscles in your esophagus

Seek emergency medical treatment if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, or if you throw up blood.

Bruises

If bruises are appearing without a reason, consult a healthcare provider.

If you think your bruise might be a sign of internal bleeding, seek medical care immediately.

Bug bites and stings

Bug bites and stings form when insects break the skin and inject small amounts of venom. Common insect bites include spider bites, bed bug bites, mosquito bites and tick and flea bites.

Often, the symptoms of these bites and stings are discomfort, itching and raised bumps. If you are bitten by a poisonous spider, such as a black widow, visit the emergency room (ER) immediately.

Treatments for bug bites and stings

Oral and topical antihistamines, or anti-itch creams, relieve itchiness and cause relief. Oral pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can lessen pain.

Cold and flu

Both the cold and flu are contagious illnesses commonly caused by respiratory infections. The flu can range from mild to severe, potentially causing serious complications for high-risk individuals.

Diagnosing the cold and flu

Your provider may want to run diagnostics if you are exhibiting symptoms such as a runny nose, congestion and muscle aches. They may also administer a flu test.

Treatments for the cold and flu

Colds tend to be treated with over-the-counter medications to manage symptoms, while prescription antiviral drugs may be given if you have tested positive for the flu.

Concussions

A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury caused by a hit or blow to the head or body. The injury causes the brain to move around, which can create chemical changes and damage brain cells.

A concussion is a common type of sports injury. It can also happen after a fall or accident.

To help prevent your child from experiencing a concussion when they play sports, encourage them to wear protective equipment, such as helmets, padding and eye and mouth guards.

What to do if you think you have a concussion

A concussion is a serious injury. If you think you or a loved one may be suffering from a concussion, you should immediately visit the emergency department or call 911.

Cuts

No matter how careful you are, it's inevitable that cuts will happen. Cuts are breaks in the skin caused by sharp objects, which can be jagged or straight, at the surface, or deeper.

Cuts can put you at risk for infection, and if you have a deep cut it may require stitches.

When does my cut need stitches?

Sometimes it might be difficult to determine if your cut needs stitches. If you aren't sure, it's best to seek medical attention. If a cut requires stitches, it should be done within six to eight hours. Some signs that your cut may need medical attention include:

The opening of the cut is gaping
The wound does not stop bleeding after 10 minutes of applying pressure
A foreign object is embedded and needs to be removed by a healthcare provider
The wound is more than a quarter-inch deep, exposing the yellow fatty tissue below the skin, or it reaches bone
The cut is over a joint, and the edges open when you move the joint
The injury is deep and on your hand or finger
The cut is on the face or an area where you don't want to have a scar
The wound is caused by an animal or human bite or a rusty or unclean object

Urgent care clinics are convenient options if you think you need stitches. You can get in and out quickly and will likely pay less than a visit to the emergency room. However, call 911 for emergency care if:

Bleeding is severe and can't be stopped after 10 minutes of firm and steady pressure
Blood spurts out of wound
The laceration is in the abdomen or chest
You suspect internal bleeding

Fevers

Running a fever is not necessarily bad. When your temperature rises, it's a sign your body is fighting off infection. Fevers are a symptom, not a disease.

In general, medical treatment is not needed unless your fever is high. However, although not necessarily dangerous in itself, a fever could still be a sign of something that needs medical treatment.

Treatments for fevers

You can treat most fevers at home by resting and drinking plenty of fluids. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help adults with discomfort and your provider can advise on what to do for your children.

Gout

Linked to the growing obesity epidemic, gout causes swelling and severe pain. Gout is defined as a form of arthritis.

Diagnosing gout

When you see a provider for gout symptoms, the first thing they will do is a joint aspiration. This is considered the most important test as it determines that your arthritis is caused by gout and not something else.

For this test, a needle will be inserted into the joint to withdraw fluid. Also, your provider may recommend a blood sample to take a look at cell counts and a urinalysis to check uric acid levels and kidney function.

Treatments for gout

Most often, medication can help reduce pain and inflammation caused by attacks. Anti-inflammatory drugs, colchicine and corticosteroids are the most prescribed medications to help treat gout symptoms.

Depending on the severity of your gout, you may require one or more of these classes of medications to treat your condition.

Headaches

Headaches are very common, and the pain can present itself in many different ways. The pain can radiate across the head and can be felt in any part of the head, or on both sides. Your head can even feel like it's being pressed in a vise.

Headache pain can be sharp, pulsating, throbbing or dull. Headaches can appear gradually or suddenly, and go away just as gradually or suddenly. They can last for an hour or several days.

If you have a headache after a blow to the head, or if you have a headache with a stiff neck, fever, confusion, loss of consciousness or pain in the eye or ear, go to the ER immediately.

Treatments for headaches

Talk with your healthcare provider about the best headache treatment. To reduce the risk of headaches or to ease pain when you're experiencing one, follow these guidelines:

Apply a heat pack or ice pack to your head or neck
Eat regular meals and avoid alcohol
Exercise regularly
Get enough sleep
Make lifestyle changes to reduce stress and develop healthy coping strategies
Try over-the-counter pain relief medication (but avoid using too much to prevent rebound headaches)

If you have regular headaches, a referral to a specialist may be indicated.

In severe cases, a healthcare provider can prescribe preventive medication, such as certain kinds of antidepressants, anti-epileptic drugs and beta blockers.

Head lice

Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp and lay eggs, or nits, in the hair. They are parasites that feed on blood. Lice bites cause uncomfortable itching but won't spread disease. When lice multiply into an infestation, treatment is needed. Lice are most common in younger children.

Treatments for lice

Treatment is needed to stop a lice infestation. Both over-the-counter and prescription treatments are available. A nit comb can be used to remove lice eggs and dead lice. A healthcare provider can consult you on the best lice treatment.

A shampoo, cream rinse or lotion can be applied to the scalp. The active ingredients can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Make sure to follow these guidelines:

Do not use extra amounts of any treatment, including shampoo, without approval
If a treatment gets in your eyes, flush your eyes immediately
Do not re-treat if lice still seem active; consult a healthcare provider for alternative treatments

Consult a healthcare provider before using any lice treatment if:

You are pregnant or nursing
You have allergies or asthma
You have lice in your eyelashes or eyebrows
You find lice on your infant

Heartburn

Heartburn is a common condition that feels like a burning sensation in your chest or throat. It is common in pregnant women and people who are overweight. Heartburn can be treated with over-the-counter antacids. Frequent heartburn can be a symptom of acid reflux or GERD, a more serious condition.

Treatments for heartburn

Heartburn can be treated with over-the-counter antacids and lifestyle changes. Do not leave heartburn untreated because it can damage your esophagus.

Lifestyle changes to treat heartburn include:

Avoid eating close to bedtime
Avoid foods, drinks and medications that trigger symptoms
Do not lie down after eating
Eat smaller meals more frequently
Lose weight if needed
Stop smoking

Occasional heartburn is not a serious concern. However, frequent heartburn can indicate GERD and should be treated medically.

Ingrown toenails

An ingrown toenail happens when the edge of a toenail grows into the skin. The condition is usually harmless, but it can cause pain, redness and swelling of the toe. Sometimes a small amount of pus can appear. In extreme cases, an ingrown toenail may lead to infections that spread to the bone. An ingrown toenail usually occurs on the big toe, but any nail can become ingrown.

Treatments for ingrown toenails

People with diabetes, poor blood circulation and nerve damage in the leg or foot are at a higher risk of developing complications with an ingrown toenail. If you have any of these conditions with an ingrown toenail, it's important to seek treatment from a healthcare provider.

In most cases, however, ingrown toenails do not require medical treatment. Most ingrown toenails can be treated at home by following these steps:

Soak the foot a few times a day in a warm Epsom salt bath.
After the soak, thoroughly dry the foot and apply antiseptic ointment and a bandage to the toe.
Wear comfortable shoes, such as sneakers or sandals, until the ingrown toenail goes away.
Do not try to remove any part of the infected nail at home.

If the ingrown toenail does not improve after a few days of home treatment, make an appointment to see a healthcare provider. A healthcare provider may cut the infected toenail or prescribe medication, such as a topical ointment. In some cases, antibiotics may be needed to treat an infection.

If the ingrown toenail keeps coming back, your healthcare provider may recommend ingrown toenail surgery, which is a simple procedure done in a provider's office to remove part of the nail. As part of the procedure, the provider may use a chemical to destroy the root of the nail.

Migraines

A migraine is a strong, painful headache. Pain may be felt on one or both sides of the head. A migraine can last for hours or days, and the pain can be debilitating.

Some people experience migraines several times a month, while others have them more or less often.

Treatments for migraines

Talk with your healthcare provider about the best treatment option, which can include:

Resting in a quiet, dark room
Applying a hot or cold cloth to your head or neck
Massages
Drinking a small amount of caffeine
Taking over-the-counter pain relievers
Taking prescription medicines to relieve pain

Minor burns

The most frequent causes of burns include heat and sunlight, although chemicals, electricity and radiation can also inflict severe damage. Burns are also a major cause of injury in children.

Treatments for burns

Minor burns, often resulting from household incidents or exposure to heat or sunlight, can typically be treated at home.

Avoid using ice, butter or grease on burns. Additionally, do not pop the blisters that form over a burn.

Heat-induced minor burns can be treated by:

Applying a cool compress until the pain subsides
Removing the heat source and any burned clothing (unless embedded in the burn)
Soaking in cool — not cold — water to pull the heat away from the burned skin
Staying hydrated to prevent dehydration
Taking mild pain relievers to help with pain and swelling
Using antibiotic cream and a clean bandage
Using a skin product that heals skin, like aloe vera

You can treat minor electrical burns by:

Applying a cool compress
Applying a mild antibiotic ointment
Applying a clean bandage
Cleansing

Nausea

Nausea is a feeling of discomfort in your stomach. It often leads to vomiting. Nausea is a common condition and is not usually serious.

Treatments for nausea

In most cases, you don't need to see a healthcare provider if you are experiencing nausea and vomiting. Contact a healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms with your nausea:

Inability to keep down liquids
Signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, infrequent urination, dark urine or dizziness
Vomiting for more than 24 hours

Call 911 if your nausea is combined with heart attack symptoms, such as chest pain, headache, jaw pain, sweating or pain in your arm.

See a healthcare provider immediately if you experience severe abdominal pain, headache and stiff neck or blood in vomit.

Skin rashes

Skin irritation can result from various factors, including chafing, allergic reactions and hives. Most are harmless and resolve on their own without the need for medical intervention.

Examples of skin rashes and irritations include acne, eczema, hives, poison ivy, scabies and warts.

Skin irritation can be acute or chronic, depending on its underlying causes. Despite the numerous potential triggers, all skin irritations stem from inflammation, which typically appears as a rash.

Sore throats

Viral infections are usually the cause of most sore throats, as well as allergies and bacterial infections (like an upper respiratory infection or strep throat).

Treatments for sore throat

If you have a sore throat, you may experience throat pain and difficulty swallowing, as well as cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, hoarseness or a cough.

Unfortunately, antibiotics can only be used when a sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection. In other words, you cannot be prescribed antibiotics for a sore throat, but you can be prescribed antibiotics for strep throat.

If your strep test (administered with a throat swab) is positive, you may be prescribed a penicillin-type medication or another antibiotic. It is important to finish whatever medication you are prescribed for strep, as not doing so can result in an infection relapse.

Whooping cough

Whooping cough is highly contagious and caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It is spread by sneezing, coughing and breathing.

Treatments for whooping cough

Prescription antibiotics can be used to shorten the duration of your illness. If you develop symptoms, see your healthcare provider.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria enter and infect the urinary tract. Your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra all make up your urinary tract. As the bacteria begin growing and multiplying in the bladder, infection emerges.