As fall approaches, certain ailments such as allergies, colds, the flu, sore throats, and ear infections increase in frequency. To stop their spread, it's crucial to be aware of the ailments that thrive in the fall and winter. In this article, we highlight common illnesses to watch out for in September. We also outline a few ways you can protect yourself from these illnesses this fall.
Common fall illnesses & their symptoms
Due to the change of seasons, certain illnesses become more popular around a certain time of the year. This occurs from a variety of circumstances, but it is helpful to understand which illnesses you should keep an eye on incase you start showing symptoms.
Some common fall illnesses and their corresponding symptoms include:
Sore throats: Sore throat is a common September illness. If you are diagnosed with a sore throat, your throat may feel scratchy or painful.
Allergies: Common fall allergies include ragweed and mold spores which are transmitted by wind and rain. Common symptoms of seasonal allergies are itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, sinusitis, throat itch, nasal congestion, nasal leakage and sneezing, wheezing, and inability to smell.
Flu: The influenza viruses A and B thrive in September as the change in temperature allows them to thrive. Symptoms are coughing, nausea, sneezing, wheezing, cough, fatigue, body aches, and nasal congestion. Getting your flu shot is a great step to prevent getting the flu this fall. AFC Urgent Care Southcenter provides flu shots 7 days a week.
Norovirus: The norovirus is an illness that inflames the stomach. It’s prevalent starting in early fall and persists through winter. It is very contagious and is spread from one person to another or by contaminated food, particularly shellfish. It can also be contracted via infected clothes and cutlery. Common symptoms of norovirus include frequent stooling, nausea, stomach ache, spasms in the stomach, cold, fever, and vomiting.
Sinusitis: It is the inflammation of the sinuses, which is the tissue lining the nasal passage. Sinusitis might be due to allergies, flu, and cold. It is commonly seen during the cold season and brings along great discomfort. Common symptoms of sinusitis are tenderness under the eyes, ear pain, postnasal drip, sneezing, nasal congestion, fatigue, tooth pain, and swollen lymph nodes.
Treatment for Common Fall Illnesses
Many fall illnesses share common symptoms such as a sore throat, congestion, and stuffy nose. These symptoms are relatively mild, and rarely require medical treatment unless persistent in nature. Certain symptoms, such as fever, body aches, dehydration and ear pain should be diagnosed by a medical professional in case they require treatment.
At AFC Urgent Care Southcenter, our team of medical professionals is here to help you avoid the long ER visits while still receiving quality care. Our medical providers are board-certified and able to diagnose your symptoms to ensure you get the treatment that you need, fast.
We offer discounted self-pay plans to ensure our care is affordable and accessible. We also accept most major insurance plans. We also offer extended business hours 7 days a week to make seeking medical care easy.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Southcenter for Seasonal Illness treatment
If you are suffering from a fall illness, seeking treatment at AFC Urgent Care Southcenter is a quick and inexpensive alternative to the ER. We do not require appointments, so you can walk-in when it is convenient for you. We are open 7 days a week with extended business hours to ensure you can get the diagnosis and treatment that you need. Walk in today.
