During the recent surge of the omicron variant, breakthrough COVID-19 infections have become much more common. The reason for this is that, due to its unique mutations, the omicron variant is far more transmissible than prior types of the COVID-19 virus. As a result, it becomes more capable of evading the passive immunity conferred by immunizations. Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team provides more info about COVID-19 and the omicron variant below, so keep reading ...
It sure seems like it! While there isn’t tons of conclusive evidence that explain why viruses tend to affect more people during the winter months, what we do know is that this idea is certainly more accurate than not. Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team provides further explanation on viruses and how they are affected by winter temperature below, so keep reading! Why Do Viruses Get Worse in the Winter? Temperature, among other factors ...
Croup is a common respiratory infection among children. It most often occurs in children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years old, and it will likely clear up within a week. Although serious croup complications are rare, croup is not something to take lightly. Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team provides more info on this respiratory infection below, so keep reading! What Is Croup? Croup is a condition that irritates and causes swelling ...
Did you know? There are between 11,000 and 13,000 strep throat cases in the U.S. every year. Thankfully, though, strep throat is highly treatable and typically isn’t a huge cause for concern. Even though it’s treatable, if strep throat is left untreated, it can cause potentially serious complications. Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team provides some further information on strep throat and what can happen if it is left untreated ...
The flu is certainly not fun to experience. You will almost certainly feel terrible, tired and achey. Plus, you will most likely have a fever if you do get sick with the flu. Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team goes on to highlight the severity of flu symptoms below, so keep reading! What Is the Flu? The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which attacks your respiratory system, including the lungs, nose and throat ...
When kids fall at home, it’s typically no big deal. Their bones and muscles are bound to withstand much more punishment. When older adults fall, however, the results can be much more serious. In fact, since 2007, fall death rates have increased every year, according to the CDC. There are many ways to lower your risk of falling at home, and our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team shares some of them below. Here’s ...
Does your head ever feel tight? Do you have a headache that feels like the pain gets worse whenever you bend over or down? If so, you’re probably dealing with a sinus headache. Sinus headaches are a symptom of sinus infections, and our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team further elaborates on them below. Keep reading! What Are Sinuses? Before you can understand what sinus headaches are and what causes them, it’s important to ...
During peak virus season, getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and for the flu are two of the best things you can do to stay safe and healthy! According to the CDC, it’s OK to get both vaccines at the same time, and our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team provides further information below. Keep reading! Is It Safe to Get the COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine at the Same Time? Yes, it is! At first, when the ...
If you didn’t already know, ringworm isn’t actually what you might think it is. Despite its name, ringworm doesn’t have anything to do with worms! Ringworm is a skin infection that is caused by a fungus, not a worm. This type of infection can happen among both humans and animals, and our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team provides some further information about it below. What Is Ringworm? Like we said earlier, ringworm ...
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms that can be caused by numerous conditions. While they’re often caused by pregnancy and stomach bugs, feelings of nausea and vomiting can also be caused by loads of other things. Nausea and vomiting are awful feelings, but they’re treatable, thankfully. Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team highlights what to do if you’re feeling nauseous below! Here’s what to do: First, sit up and avoid lying ...
Although they’re uncomfortable to talk about and certainly uncomfortable to experience, vaginal yeast infections are very common among women. In fact, up to three of four women will experience a yeast infection at some point in their lives. Keep reading as our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team further highlights this common infection below. What Causes Yeast Infections? A vaginal yeast infection, also known as candidiasis, is a common condition. The fungus, Candida (yeast), is ...
It seems like everyone is getting sick with respiratory illnesses lately, and bronchitis is yet another respiratory illness to add to the list. In fact, acute bronchitis is one of the most common respiratory illnesses—especially during cold and flu season—due to its contagious nature. There are actually two types of bronchitis—acute and chronic—and our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team highlights what you need to know about them below! What Is Bronchitis ...
Getting tested for STDs is important for those who are sexually active. STDs can cause many long-term health problems when left untreated and undiagnosed, but they’re also quite treatable if you get tested frequently and know you have one. Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team provides more helpful info on STDs below, so keep reading! When Should I Get Tested for STDs? If you’re sexually active and not in a long-term relationship, you ...
If you have gout, you’re certainly aware of the pain and discomfort it can cause. This form of arthritis affects more than 3 million people in the U.S. every year, but luckily, there are ways you can successfully deal with the pain at home! Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne walks you through this condition and what you can do to treat it. What gout is: Gout is a ...
Feeling that painful twinge in your lower back or neck can be scary. Many of us have likely experienced this feeling before, so how concerned should you be if you pull a muscle? Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team is here to provide some helpful answers and information on muscle strains, so read on! How Severe Is a Pulled Muscle? Pulled muscles, or muscle strains, vary in severity. A muscle strain occurs when your specific ...
Getting bitten by an animal certainly isn’t pleasant. Most animal bites are caused by pets, like dogs and cats, and are most common among children. Even though children are most often bitten, adults can get bitten, too! If you’ve been bitten by an animal, it’s important to know basic first aid to care for your bite. Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team highlights what you need to know about your bite and ...
Progress with COVID-19 has come a long, long way. It’s crazy to think that only just a year and a half ago, none of us even knew this virus existed. Now, scientists and medical experts alike have developed vaccines that provide immunity for months and tests that provide accurate results in just 15 minutes. While this progress is encouraging, the CDC is finding that there is a rise in respiratory illnesses as masks are ...
It’s natural to think that most rashes that show up on your child at camps like YMCA Summer Camp or Covenant Day School Summer Camp can be easily treated with some OTC creams or other medications, but that’s not always the case! Some will go away over time, and some will keep coming back. Although most rashes are not life-threatening, some rashes can signal something more serious. To learn more about rashes and ...
Everyone gets scraped and cut at some point. Most of the time, these kinds of wounds or lacerations are minor and heal without any treatment at all. However, sometimes cuts require sutures (more commonly known as stitches) to heal correctly. How are you supposed to know when you or your child’s cut or laceration is bad enough to where it needs to be stitched up? Or does it even need to be a serious ...
Whether it’s at a YMCA Summer Camp or during a sporting event at Covenant Day School Summer Camp, injuries happen. So, if your child is dealing with sore ribs or a hurt ankle, is it time to take him or her to get an X-ray? It could be, and our team at AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne walks you through how to know if your child needs one or not below! What Is an X-Ray ...
