Urgent care express

If you or a family member have the signs or symptoms of strep throat you may want to seek urgent medical care. Most urgent care centers (60%) will have a wait time of 15 minutes of less and (65%) will have a physician on-site at all times. A number of centers (66%) are open prior to 9:00 a.m. during the week and many do so on Saturdays (45.7%) and Sundays (31.1%) as well. 90.6% of urgent medical care centers are are open until 7:00 p.m. or later on weeknights, with two out of five of these centers staying open until 9:00 p.m. or later. This will ensure a quick diagnosis to your strep throat.
Symptoms and Signs of Strep Throat

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Rash
  • Nausea or vomiting, this happens especially in younger children
  • Body aches
  • Painful swallowing
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • White patches around tonsils
  • Red or Swollen Tonsils

When You Should Seek Medical Care

  • Sore throat is accompanied by swollen lymph glands
  • Sore throat lasts longer that 48 hours
  • Fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Fever lasting loner than 48 hours.
  • Sore throat accompanied by rash
  • Trouble swallowing or breathing

What Causes Strep Throat?
Strep throat is a bacteria known as Streptococcus pyogenes, or A streptococcus. These bacteria are highly contagious and are spread through saliva. Do not share food or drink with someone who may have strep throat. Wash your hand often to avoid the spread of bacteria through surfaces that may contain it.
Risk Factors
Factors that increase you risk of getting infected with strep throat begin with age; strep throat is most common in young children. The time of year is also a factor because strep throat bacteria flourishes in the late fall and early spring.
Complications of Strep Throat
Strep throat itself is not extremely dangerous, but it can lead to serious complications if left untreated. It can lead to inflammatory illnesses, such as scarlet fever, inflammation of the kidney, and rheumatic fever. Strep bacteria can also cause infection in other body parts, including the tonsils, sinuses, skin, blood, and middle ear.
Going to urgent care for any of these strep throat symptoms can be beneficial. It can save you a long waiting period at a clinic and a large bill from the Emergency Room.