As a parent, it can be difficult to know when your child's illness or injury requires urgent medical attention. Pediatric urgent care clinics are designed to provide immediate medical attention for children with non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries that require prompt treatment but are not severe enough to require a trip to the emergency room. These centers are designed to provide accessible care that is much more affordable than pediatrician or primary care physician visits ...
As the seasons change and the temperature drops, it's not uncommon to hear warnings about the arrival of cold and flu season. During this time, many people become more wary of their health and take extra precautions to avoid getting sick. However, amidst the heightened awareness, numerous myths and misconceptions about this season have been perpetuated over the years. American Family Care (AFC) debunks these myths and separates fact from fiction, enabling you to ...
Is an Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic Like Going to the ER? If you find yourself with an emergency medical condition that needs to be dealt with, it can often become an overwhelming situation. Thoughts of long waits, expensive treatments, and procedures at a hospital emergency room (ER) may cross your mind. However, the ER isn't always your only option - have you ever considered visiting an urgent care walk-in clinic? Urgent care clinics like AFC ...
Getting Strep Without Tonsils? Is It Possible? AFC Aurora CO Has Answers for You Is getting strep without tonsils possible? The short answer is yes. Strep throat is caused by a particular strain of bacteria, group A Streptococcus. These bacteria can live in the nose and mouth. The bacteria are spread through an infected person's saliva or mucus and contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. A person without tonsils can contract the infection if ...
Can Bronchitis Turn Into Pneumonia? Can bronchitis turn into pneumonia? In some cases, this happens when the inflammation of the bronchial tubes persists for some time and is not treated properly, leading to a bacterial or viral infection that can cause pneumonia. When bronchitis becomes severe, the tiny hair-like structures (cilia) that line the bronchi can become damaged, making it difficult for mucus to clear from the lungs. This trapped mucus creates a breeding ground ...
Have you ever had a sore throat that seemed endless? You’re not alone. Knowing when a sore throat may resolve on its own and when it’s necessary to seek medical attention is an important aspect of recovering properly. While a sore throat is a common symptom of many illnesses, a lingering sensation could indicate something more serious– like strep. In this blog, we’ll explore the causes and symptoms of strep throat and ...
As we head closer to the peak of cold and flu season, it’s crucial to be aware of the various illnesses you may be at risk of contracting. Influenza, or the flu, is a very common viral infection that starts to rapidly affect our communities in the late fall and through winter. In this case you may be wondering if it’s possible to get the flu twice in the same year. This blog ...
What Are the Degrees of Burns? A Guide to Identifying Burns So, what are the degrees of burns? If you’ve been wondering how to identify burns, we’ve got the answers for you. Burns are a common injury that can occur from various sources, including hot liquids, fire, chemicals, and sun exposure. Depending on the severity of the burn, it can range from a minor inconvenience to a life-threatening emergency. Therefore, it is crucial ...
During the fall and winter, many illnesses begin to spread rapidly in our communities. Two common conditions that tend to affect many individuals are strep throat and the flu. While both can leave you feeling under the weather for days, understanding their differences can help you seek the right treatment and recover faster. In this blog, we’ll explore the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for strep and the flu. For same-day general illness treatment ...
As the leaves begin to change and temperatures drop, many people look forward to spending time in the beauty of autumn. However, for those who suffer from seasonal allergies, this time of year can bring about unwelcome symptoms– like sneezing, itching, and congestion. If you find yourself suffering from allergy symptoms more often during October and November, this guide will help you navigate and cope with allergies so you can enjoy the fall months. For ...
As a prominent care provider of accessible primary care, urgent care, and occupational medicine services nationwide, American Family Care (AFC) is uniquely positioned to guide and educate the public on pertinent health issues, such as the FDA’s recent decisions on the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine. The FDA held a Non-Prescription Drug Advisory Committee meeting on September 11-12, 2023, to deliberate on the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine as an active ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) cough ...
Why You Should See an Urgent Care Doctor for Wart Removal Home remedies for warts might not be as effective as you hope, so we recommend seeing an urgent care doctor for wart removal to treat these pesky growths at their source. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and can appear almost anywhere on the body, causing both physical discomfort and self-consciousness. This article takes you through everything you need to know about ...
Mono (mononucleosis) surfaces as a result of a virus type known as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It is most common among teens and adults, but some children can also become infected. While most people experience this virus mildly, others may not even be aware of its existence. It is important to note that the symptoms of mono are not distinguishable because they are common ones that exist for many other medical conditions. Some of these symptoms ...
For people with allergies, experiencing a sore throat is not uncommon. This can occur when the body reacts to an allergen by producing excess mucus. This additional mucus can then drip from the nose down the back of the throat, a phenomenon known as postnasal drip. This can lead to irritation, causing the throat to feel scratchy, ticklish, or painful. Usually, people mistake a sore throat caused by allergies for a symptom of a cold ...
Sports Physicals: Getting Ready to Go Back to School Before hitting the field, court, or track, there's a crucial checkpoint that ensures the well-being of our student-athletes: sports physicals. These check-ups are a proactive approach to safeguarding the health and performance of young athletes. They not only fulfill school and sports league requirements but also serve as a comprehensive assessment to detect and prevent potential health issues. Book Now The Importance of Sports Physicals Physicals ...
The playground is filled with fun experiences as children play with their friends and families. However, anyone familiar with kids knows one cannot be too careful around them. Children are liable to fall during unstable movements or while running around. Common Pediatric Injuries that Can Occur on the Playground Common pediatric injuries that occur on the playground include falls, fractures, sprains, cuts, bruises, and head injuries. It is essential to supervise children and ensure they ...
Pain in the lower left side of the abdomen in females can indicate unique problems related to women’s health. Learn more about what can cause pain and when to seek medical attention. Where is the pain coming from? There are many organs on the left side of the abdomen. When experiencing lower left side pain, it could be coming from one of these organs, according to the Cleveland Clinic: Small intestine Colon Appendix Ovaries ...
Sinus infection is not a foreign illness, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), acute sinusitis affects approximately 1 in 10 adults in the United States each year. It is safe to assume that you have a sinus infection whenever you feel a pressure build up in your ear, have a runny nose, and don’t feel good generally. If it is something minor, it resolves within seven to ten days ...
From 2010 to 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated there were 9.4 million to 41 million flu illnesses every year. But there is an easy way to protect yourself — the flu shot. Studies show that the severity of the flu is significantly less if you catch the flu but are vaccinated. The CDC says the flu vaccine reduces the risk of seeing a doctor for the flu by 40% to ...
I Have an STD, But I'm Not Sexually Active If you have contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD) but are not sexually active, there are a few reasons why this could be the case. "STD" refers to the constellation of diseases that result from a sexually transmitted infection (STI). For example, cervical cancer is an STD from the STI of HPV. Though it is possible to contract an STI even if you are not ...
