With the holiday season around the corner, dealing with a sore throat can be an unexpected inconvenience. Stop by AFC Urgent Care Fort Collins for quick, same-day diagnosis and treatment of sore throat infections – no appointment needed! 

After enjoying live music at Wolverine Farm Publick House, or shopping at the Colorado Holiday Maker’s Market at the Northside Aztlan Community Center, you might notice your throat feeling a bit scratchy, swollen, or even painful later in the week. While it could just be a minor irritation, there’s also a chance it could signal the start of an infection. 

Rather than taking a risk with your health, it’s important to learn about the possible causes of a sore throat, the red flags to watch for, and the treatment options available at AFC Urgent Care Fort Collins. This way, you can get the relief you need and get back to enjoying the holiday festivities sooner. 

What Causes a Sore Throat? 

A sore throat can have a variety of causes, both infectious and benign. 

• Cold & flu 
• Seasonal allergies 
• Strep throat 
• Sinus infection
• Tonsillitis  
• COVID-19 

Less than a third of sore throats are caused by bacterial infections, so it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis to avoid unnecessary antibiotic use. 

Most of the time, a sore throat will run its course after a week or so, depending on the cause. However, pay attention to any progressing symptoms and warning signs of a more serious illness. You will need to seek immediate medical care from an AFC provider if you are also experiencing fever, shortness of breath, body aches, or loss of smell and/or taste.  

How do You Treat a Sore Throat?

At AFC Fort Collins, we provide a variety of services including rapid COVID-19 testing, flu testing, strep cultures, and even in-house labs to get to the bottom of your sore throat. If your throat pain is accompanied by cough and shortness of breath, we can perform in-house chest X-rays to rule out pneumonia. Depending on your diagnosis, we can prescribe antibiotics or recommend over-the-counter treatment options from your local pharmacy.  

Other at-home remedies for a sore throat include gargling with warm salt water, using a humidifier, drinking hot herbal tea, and consuming throat lozenges. 

Don’t let a sore throat linger; pre-register at AFC Fort Collins today!