Have you ever felt sick, but been too busy to visit the doctor? While some illnesses clear up on their own, not all will. It is important to understand when you should seek medical care for your illness symptoms so that you don’t allow an illness to continue to worsen without proper treatment. Pneumonia is most commonly caused by a bacterial infection in the lungs. There are two major varieties of pneumonia - walking pneumonia and regular pneumonia. Keep reading to learn more about early signs of pneumonia to look out for, when to seek medical care and treatment options.
If you’re feeling sick, it is important to seek medical care instead of allowing your symptoms to progress. At AFC Urgent Care Southcenter, our walk-in urgent care clinic offers rapid walk-in illness care. We’re open Monday through Saturday and accept walk-in patients, making our clinic a convenient option when you can’t get an appointment with your primary care provider. Simply walk into the clinic, or schedule an appointment online in advance below.
How Does Pneumonia Spread
Pneumonia is a serious illness, however, cases are relatively common. In many cases, patients allow their illness symptoms to worsen over time because they think they can fight off their symptoms. Pneumonia can start as something as simple as a cold, however, it is caused by a bacterial infection taking over the lungs, and it requires medical treatment to resolve. Like most illnesses, pneumonia and the primary infections that can lead to pneumonia are all highly contagious and can spread through airborne droplets as well as direct and indirect contact with a sick person.
Symptoms of Pneumonia
Pneumonia often begins as a more mild upper respiratory infection. Symptoms are often so mild at first that patients stay home to fight off the infection on their own. Once pneumonia has begun to take over the lungs, symptoms can rapidly become worse. Seeking early intervention is the best way to effectively treat cases of pneumonia before they become severe.
Symptoms of pneumonia include:
- Fever
- Coughing up green mucus
- Chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Body aches
- Congestion
- Headaches
- Chills
- Fatigue
When to Seek Medical Care
Pneumonia is a very serious infection that can lead to hospitalization in some cases. It is important to seek medical care for your symptoms early to prevent them from becoming severe. If you are feeling sick and your symptoms are rapidly worsening, you could be developing pneumonia. In order to diagnose pneumonia, your medical provider will likely perform chest X-rays to look for signs of infection in the lungs. Catching pneumonia early is the key to preventing severe illness, which is why AFC Southcenter provides walk-in care for pneumonia Monday through Saturday!
Visit AFC Southcenter for Rapid Illness Care on a Walk-In Basis
At AFC Urgent Care Southcenter, we understand that quick intervention is essential for cases of pneumonia. That is why our walk-in clinic is open Monday through Saturday on a walk-in basis. We have the shortest wait times in the area, making our clinic a convenient option when you cannot get an appointment with your primary care provider. We offer affordable care and accept most medical insurance plans. Simply walk into the clinic when it’s convenient for you!
