With urgent care centers growing in popularity, more and more communities are noticing their many benefits. AFC Urgent Care Elizabeth is able to treat many illnesses and injuries that some patients would wait hours for in the emergency room. If you have a condition that is not life-threatening, AFC Elizabeth can treat it.

In the winter, illnesses are spread more easily, and injuries are more common due to slipping and falling on ice. The following are common reasons to visit AFC Elizabeth in the winter.

Influenza

Cold and flu symptoms are the most common reason to visit urgent care centers no matter the time of year. Flu season runs from October to March, and it peaks in November and February. Our providers can prescribe antiviral medications to patients to help ease their symptoms.

Many upper respiratory infections have similar symptoms, and they can be hard to diagnose on your own. Our providers are all board-certified, so they can run proper tests to diagnose your symptoms and get your treatment. If you are suffering from fever, congestion, cough, sore throat, or body aches, visit AFC Elizabeth today.

Sprains & Fractures

The second most common reason to visit AFC Elizabeth is for injuries. Sprains, fractures, and lacerations are able to be treated in our center due to our state-of-the-art digital x-ray. Patients don’t need to go to an external facility to have their injuries examined.

With the cold weather and an increase in ice, patients are falling on sidewalks and in their driveways, injuring their wrists and ankles in the process. Additionally, there is an increase in cooking with the holidays, so patients may need stitches due to cuts from knives. 

Sore Throat

Strep throat is commonly transmitted between patients in the winter. In fact, since most patients are spending their time indoors, contagious illnesses are easily spread, and infections increase. Strep throat can cause debilitating pain that leaves you feeling terrible.

From the pain of the sore throat and body aches or fever, you want to get care as quickly as possible. AFC Elizabeth can take a sample to complete a rapid strep test, as well as a strep culture to prescribe an antibiotic to treat your symptoms.

Burns

Similar to injuries from cooking, treatment for burns is common in urgent care centers. With a lot of cooking happening, hot ovens and stoves increase the risk of burns. You can be as careful as possible, but accidents do happen.

AFC Elizabeth offers extended hours for these accidents, and we are open on the weekends to accommodate the Elizabeth community. Visit our walk-in center today for any of the mentioned reasons.