If you wake up with a runny nose, scratchy throat and the chills, chances are that you turn to your phone or computer and fire up your favorite search engine. But when you type your symptoms into the search bar, you discover it could be a cold, the flu, strep throat or even COVID-19.

Infections can share similar symptoms, which can make it hard to diagnose yourself at home.

That’s where AFC Urgent Care Knoxville comes into play! Our team can diagnose and treat you faster using our knowledge and a rapid test or two to help us along the way.

What Symptoms Do Strep Throat, the Flu and COVID-19 Have in Common?

These three illnesses are all infections, but they are caused by different things. Strep throat is caused by a bacteria, while COVID-19 and influenza are caused by two different viruses. While these illnesses have different origins, you can contract them all the same way. Interacting with an infected person (or viral particles he or she leaves behind) or touching an infected surface and then touching your face can cause you to feel sick a few days after the fact.

Everyone is different when it comes to immune responses, but infections often start out by producing similar symptoms. A fever can appear, your body or head could start to ache, or that dreaded sore throat could start to rear its ugly head. Our staff can perform a few simple rapid tests to help pinpoint exactly what is making you sick.

Infections We Can Test for at AFC

• COVID-19
• Influenza
• Strep throat

Can AFC Treat My Infection?

The tricky thing about infections is that they may share similar symptoms, but they don’t have the same treatment plans. For example, a strep throat infection may be diagnosed after a rapid test or a visual exam of the back of your throat and a round of antibiotics will quickly be diagnosed.

COVID-19 and the flu aren’t as easy to treat since viral infections do not respond to antibiotics. There are specific antiviral drug treatments on the market these days to help minimize symptom severity and to control your infection, but they are most effective if taken right at symptom onset. That’s why we recommend coming to see us for a rapid test as soon as you start feeling sick.

Common Symptoms for COVID-19 and Flu Infections

• Fatigue
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Fever

Need help determining what is making you sick? Stop by AFC Urgent Care Knoxville for a rapid test.