Recent Blog Posts

Many believe that once you catch the flu, your body becomes immune to it forever. While recovering from the flu does provide short-term immunity to that specific strain, the virus constantly mutates, creating new variations each season. Similarly, if your body encounters the flu virus again after you have already had the flu, you still may get sick. However, your symptoms will likely be much milder. Understanding how flu immunity works and the role of ...

Read more..

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes acute gastroenteritis, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. While norovirus primarily affects the digestive system, it can cause additional illness symptoms such as a fever while your body is fighting off the infection.  However, fever is not a defining symptom of norovirus and may not occur in every case. Keep reading to learn more about norovirus symptoms and treatment. If you’re feeling ...

Read more..

A wrist sprain is painful and can worsen without proper care. Explore options for treatment and when to seek medical attention. Schedule Appointment Table of Contents How To Tell if You Have a Sprained Wrist Severity of Sprained Wrists How To Treat a Sprained Wrist How To Heal a Sprained Wrist Fast Sprained Wrist Medical Devices Should I Go to the ER or Urgent Care? Activities to Avoid With a Sprained Wrist Visit AFC for Help ...

Read more..

Coughing up mucus can be a sign of various underlying conditions, ranging from mild to severe. While occasional mucus production is normal and helps keep your airways moist and clear, persistent, discolored or excessive mucus may indicate a more serious issue. Conditions like bronchitis, pneumonia, or even chronic illnesses could be at play. If you are coughing up mucus, you should seek medical care for a diagnosis and treatment. At AFC Urgent Care Waltham, we ...

Read more..

If you get a deep cut, you may be able to treat it without stitches. Learn more about treating a deep cut. Schedule Appointment Table of Contents What is Considered a Deep Cut? How Deep Does a Cut Need to Be for Stitches? Treatment Other Concerns to Keep in Mind Where To Go for Treatment What is Considered a Deep Cut? A deep laceration is generally considered over a quarter inch deep, but this also depends ...

Read more..

Food poisoning symptoms can appear within hours or take several days to manifest, depending on the type of contaminant involved. Bacteria like “Salmonella,” “E. coli,” or “Listeria,” as well as viruses and toxins can all cause foodborne illnesses, each with varying onset times. In some cases, symptoms can appear within an hour of exposure while in others symptoms may not appear for 2 weeks after exposure. How long after exposure symptoms show up, and how ...

Read more..

Stomach pain after eating can be a cause for concern, especially if it happens frequently. Learn more about treating frequent and occasional stomach pain. Schedule Appointment Table of Contents Potential Causes and Treatments Upper Stomach vs. Lower Stomach Pain What To Do If Other Symptoms, like Diarrhea, Accompany the Stomach Pain What Do I Do If My Stomach Pain After Eating is Frequent? When Do I Need to See a Medical Provider? Potential Causes and Treatments ...

Read more..

Ear bleeding can be a sign of serious medical problems, especially if you’ve fallen or had head trauma. Explore potential ear bleeding causes and treatments. Schedule Appointment Table of Contents Middle or Outer Ear Infection Head Trauma or Falling Torn or Ruptured Eardrum Foreign Object Barotrauma Other Infections Other Symptoms To Watch For When To Visit a Healthcare Provider Visit Your Local AFC Middle or Outer Ear Infection Infections in the ear, whether in the ...

Read more..

A lingering cough after a cold can be irritating and exhausting. Use these tips to get rid of your residual cough. Table of Contents What Causes a Lingering Cough How to Get Rid of a Chronic Cough Medications to Try When to See a Provider Visit Your Local AFC What Causes a Lingering Cough One of the most common causes of a chronic cough is a postnasal drip caused by allergies or a cold. Plus ...

Read more..

Walking pneumonia is considered to be a less severe form of pneumonia. It gets its nickname due to symptoms being mild enough for patients to continue with most of their daily tasks while being sick with walking pneumonia. However, walking pneumonia can still cause severe illness and requires medical care from a medical professional to treat properly. Keep reading to learn more about symptoms associated with walking pneumonia and treatment options. If you’re feeling ...

Read more..