It’s no coincidence that people become sick more frequently in the winter. According to the CDC, the flu and other viruses are at their peak between December and February every year. But why is this the case? Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team has some helpful answers for you, so read on! What Causes Viral Infections to Increase in the Winter? One of the most prevalent causes for the rise in viral diseases is ...
When or if your kids get croup, it can be scary. While croup itself isn’t a very harmful infection, it sounds harmful, due to the eerie, barking cough that kids experience when they get this infection. Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team provides more info on croup below, so keep reading! What Is Croup? Croup is a respiratory infection that is most often caused by the parainfluenza virus. It causes upper respiratory inflammation and ...
Strep throat is common during the winter, and it’s most common among children. Due to strep throat being spread by contact and airborne droplets, it often spread in schools. If your child gets sick with strep throat, though, antibiotics can ensure that your child will feel good as new in a few days. Failure to treat strep throat can result in concerning side effects, and our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team further explains why ...
Fevers aren’t pleasant to experience, to say the least. Although they’re common with all viral infections, it doesn’t make them any less uncomfortable to deal with. Luckily, though, there are some things you can do at home to ease your fever and bring down your body temperature. Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia share some further information about the flu and what you can do to break a ...
At home, falls happen too often. More than one in four people over the age of 65 will fall in a given year, and only half of those people tell someone when a fall happens. When a person falls once, it doubles his or her chances of a second fall. As you age, or if you have an elderly loved on in your home, it’s important to know and eliminate fall hazards. Our AFC ...
Oftentimes, migraines can be mistaken as sinus headaches. While both types of headaches are painful, one is a sign of an infection while the other isn’t. Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team provides helpful information on both types of headaches below, so keep reading! What Are Sinus Headaches? Sinus headaches are a common symptom of sinusitis, or a sinus infection. When a sinus infection occurs, the sinuses become clogged with fluid, which cause pressure ...
The flu and COVID-19 are both respiratory illnesses, but they’re two totally different viruses. Even though they’re different, how are you supposed to know which one you’re sick with once you start to show symptoms? Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia provides some helpful answers. How Are the Flu and COVID-19 Different? Although both are respiratory illnesses, they’re caused by two different viruses. The flu is caused ...
Thankfully, ringworm isn’t quite as scary as it sounds. This skin fungus doesn’t actually have anything to do with worms at all, and it’s highly treatable. Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team provides more information on ringworm below, so keep reading! What Is Ringworm? Ringworm is a rash caused by a fungal infection. It’s usually an itchy, circular rash with clearer skin in the middle. Ringworm gets its name because of ...
Everyone has experienced an upset stomach before, but that doesn’t make it any more pleasant to experience when it does happen! Although an upset stomach and nausea are not fun, they aren’t usually causes for concern, and it is often possible to treat the symptoms using home remedies. Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team walks you through how you can care for your upset stomach at home, so keep reading! Here’s what ...
Yeast infections are relatively common. In fact, nearly 75% of women will have at least one in their lifetimes. While yeast infections are most common among females, they can affect males, too. And, they don’t affect only the vagina, they can occur on the penis and other areas of the body, like in the mouth and throat. To learn more about this common type of infection from our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team, read ...
Did you know? More than 3 million bronchitis cases occur every year in the United States. The good news is that bronchitis rates have been declining each year, but those who are over the age of 65 or under the age of 2 are still likely to get this infection. Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team provides more information about bronchitis below, so keep reading! What Is Bronchitis? Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining ...
STD cases are steadily increasing. According to the CDC, reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis have increased for the sixth consecutive year—reaching a new all-time high. STDs carry a lot of stigma, but the fact of the matter is that these infections remain common, costly and challenge the health and wellness of millions of people across the United States. Learn more important info about STDs from our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team below ...
Boils are rough to experience. They’re painful and itchy, and they look eerily similar to spider bites. Many people think of a boil as a large pimple that is “boiling over,” which certainly can help you identify one. If you have a boil that has developed on your skin, read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia provides some information that you need to know! What boils are: A boil, also called ...
" It’s no secret that pulling a muscle hurts. Plus, the time it takes to make a full recovery from a pulled muscle isn’t short; however, there are things you can do to potentially speed up the recovery time to get back on your feet sooner than later! Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team further explains this below. What Happens When I Pull a Muscle? A pulled muscle, or muscle strain, occurs when a ...
Animal bites are both painful and scary. Some aren’t that serious and don’t even break the skin, but some can become serious and at risk of becoming infected. So, how are you supposed to successfully treat them if you or your child has been bitten? Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia provides some answers below, so read on! Is It Possible for My Bite to Get Infected? It’s definitely possible, but it’s ...
Flu rates have gone down drastically in the past year and a half due to social distancing and other health-safety precautions, but it’s still possible to get sick with the virus. If you suspect that you may have the flu, consider getting a rapid flu test! Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team explains why rapid flu tests are effective and accurate below, so keep reading. How Is the Flu Different from COVID-19? The flu ...
No matter the cause of the rash, they can be extremely itchy and uncomfortable. While you can certainly seek medical care to take care of your or your child’s rash, there are some things you can do at home that can help treat it, too! Read on as our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team provides some additional helpful information on rashes. What Causes a Skin Rash? Skin rashes can be caused by many things ...
Have you recently sustained a cut or laceration that is causing lots of bleeding? If so, it can be quite scary and can require professional medical attention at times, but there are things that you can do to slow or even stop the bleeding before visiting the doctor. Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia highlights some basic first-aid tactics and home remedies below. Here’s what to do: Wash your hands first before interacting with the ...
Not only are the events leading up to an X-ray often unpleasant, but getting an X-ray in and of itself can be a little nerve-wracking. So, what do need to know before getting an X-ray, and is anything required of you that will end up being inconvenient? Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team shares some helpful information about the X-ray process below, so read on! What Are X-rays? X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation ...
Kidney infections are rare, but they can be severe. About one in every 30 cases of a UTI will lead to a kidney infection, and they are more common among women than men; although, they can affect anyone at any age. What exactly are kidney infections, though? Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team has some answers, so read on. What Exactly Is a Kidney Infection? A kidney infection, or pyelonephritis, is a type of urinary ...
