How To Identify Strep Throat vs Flu Symptoms

January 31, 2024

Identifying the underlying cause of your illness symptoms is the first step towards recovery. Sometimes, it can be difficult to understand what is causing your symptoms without a medical diagnosis. However, if you are suffering from a sore throat in addition to other illness symptoms, the flu and strep throat are two illnesses you should keep in mind. If you’re experiencing illness symptoms visit AFC Urgent Care Burlington for same-day illness care in Burlington, MA with no appointment needed. Our clinic is open every day from 8am-8pm.

How To Determine The Cause of a Sore Throat              

If you’re currently experiencing a sore throat and are trying to understand what could be causing this symptom, there are a few qualities of your symptoms that can help narrow down the potential cause. Firstly, it is important to evaluate how severe your sore throat is. If your sore throat is causing mild discomfort, but is not causing any difficulty swallowing, it is likely that your sore throat is caused by a mild virus or environmental irritation.

If your sore throat is causing moderate to severe discomfort, is causing you to have trouble swallowing, or is accompanied by a fever, you may be experiencing symptoms of strep throat or the flu. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that infects the throat and tonsils. It requires medical diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics. The flu is a viral infection that is severely contagious but usually does not require medical intervention for symptoms to resolve. While strep throat often only affects the throat area, the flu can present with a variety of additional symptoms such as a cough, congestion, loss of appetite, and headaches. Seeking a medical diagnosis at urgent care can help you identify the cause of your symptoms quicker than self-diagnosing.

Walk-in Sore Throat Diagnosis & Treatment Near Wilmington, MA

If you are experiencing a sore throat, it could be an indication of an illness. Sore throats are common early symptoms of many viral infections, such as the common cold. Viral sore throats are often mild in nature and resolve on their own in a few days. Sore throats can also be caused by environmental irritants such as smoke, dust and even breathing in dry air. If your sore throat is severe, it could be an indication of a more serious illness. It is important that you seek medical care if your sore throat is causing significant discomfort to determine the cause of your symptoms and begin the appropriate treatment.

Sore throats can be caused by a variety of different conditions. When you seek medical care for a sore throat, your medical provider will begin by asking whether you are experiencing any symptoms in addition to your sore throat. They then will conduct an evaluation of your throat and neck. Your medical provider may conduct diagnostic testing, such as taking a swab of your throat to test for a bacterial infection. Depending on the results, your medical provider will discuss treatment options including at-home care, over-the-counter medication use, and prescription antibiotics if applicable.

Visit AFC Urgent Care Burlington For Sore Throat Treatment In Burlington, MA

AFC Urgent Care Burlington is here to help if you’re suffering from a sore throat. Our dedicated medical staff is available for illness diagnosis and treatment seven days a week from 8am-8pm for patients in Burlington, MA, and the surrounding communities. If you’re feeling under the weather, seeking an early medical diagnosis can help promote a fast recovery. Walk into our clinic today, or schedule an appointment online.

Our facility is equipped with a laboratory on-site so that we can perform diagnostic testing at the time of your visit and get the results quickly. Our medical staff is board-certified and able to diagnose and provide treatment for a variety of illnesses, including strep throat and the flu. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer affordable care. Walk in today for fast and reliable medical care. For additional information regarding our clinic, contact us directly by calling (781) 270-4700.

 

 

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