When you or someone you love gets sick, deciding what to do and where to go for help can be overwhelming. At CareWell Urgent Care, we want you to have the information you need to navigate those sudden illnesses that life brings your way.
Our experienced providers and caring clinical staff offer convenient, comprehensive treatment for a wide range of contagious illnesses. With locations across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, exceptional care is available close to home. Here are some of the contagious illnesses we can diagnose and treat.
Respiratory Illnesses
From colds to flu to COVID-19, respiratory infections can take many forms and have various symptoms. Our trained, caring providers can handle a broad spectrum of respiratory illnesses at each of our locations.
Common Cold and the Flu
The common cold can be a mild illness much of the time, but sometimes you need the expertise of an urgent care provider. Visit urgent care for a cold if:
- Your cold is accompanied by shortness of breath, high fever, or persistent coughing.
- You have an underlying condition like asthma or COPD that may lead to more severe illness.
- You are concerned about dehydration.
- Your symptoms persist for up to a week or longer.
When influenza (flu) strikes in the fall and winter, it can be miserable. Fever, body aches, chills, coughing, and fatigue can take their toll. The good news is that help is nearby. Visit urgent care for the flu if:
- You have a persistently high fever.
- You have a cough that isn’t clearing up.
- You have asthma, COPD, or a chronic condition that may make your illness more severe.
- You are becoming dehydrated.
- You are pregnant.
Upper Respiratory Infections
Other upper respiratory infections can include bronchitis and pneumonia. Our experienced CareWell providers can provide comprehensive care for these and many other respiratory illnesses. Visit us for:
- Ongoing fever.
- Persistent or worsening cough.
- Shortness of breath.
- Fatigue.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common contagious illness. It may be mild in many people but can become especially severe in very young children, older adults, and adults with chronic heart or lung conditions. CareWell offers treatment for RSV in people of all ages.
Common symptoms include:
- Congestion.
- Dry cough.
- Headache.
- Fever.
If you or your child experience some of the following more severe symptoms, it is advisable to seek immediate care in an emergency room (ER):
- Cyanosis (blue lips, face, or fingers due to lack of oxygen).
- Struggling to breathe.
Eye Infections
Eye infections are another type of common contagious illness. One of the most common is conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye.
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Pink eye can affect children and adults and can be caused by allergies, viruses, or bacteria. If the cause is viral or bacterial, it can be very contagious. Wash your hands diligently and see a provider for diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms may include:
- Itching in one or both eyes.
- Redness in one or both eyes.
- Discharge from the eyes (may be clear, watery, thick, yellowish, or greenish).
- Crustiness on your eyelashes in the morning.
- Difficulty opening your eyes.
- Watering of one or both eyes.
Gastrointestinal Illnesses
Most of us have experienced the discomfort of digestive illnesses or had a child who developed vomiting or diarrhea. Urgent care is an excellent choice for rapid, convenient care in these situations. At CareWell, we are experienced in treating a wide range of gastrointestinal illnesses. One of the most common contagious illnesses is viral gastroenteritis.
Viral Gastroenteritis
Viral gastroenteritis, a common contagious illness, is better known as the stomach flu. Characterized by vomiting and diarrhea, stomach flu in adults is commonly caused by norovirus, whereas in children, rotavirus is a common cause.
Other common symptoms of viral gastroenteritis include:
- Stomach cramps.
- Low-grade fever.
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
Adults should seek treatment in urgent care for stomach flu if:
- You’re unable to keep liquids down.
- You’ve had diarrhea for more than two days.
- You notice signs of dehydration (extreme thirst, dry mouth, very dark urine, minimal urination, dizziness, significant weakness).
- You see blood in your diarrhea.
- You have a fever over 104°F.
Children can become dehydrated more quickly than adults. Seek help in urgent care if your child:
- Has a fever over 102°F.
- Is in significant pain and discomfort.
- Is having bloody diarrhea.
- Appears very weak or sleepy.
- Has signs of dehydration (dry mouth, lethargy, dark urine, minimal urination, or crying without tears).
Our skilled clinical team can quickly assess you or your child and provide essential medical care, including rehydration treatment or medications to relieve symptoms.
As you or your child recovers from the stomach flu, diligent handwashing and sanitizing surfaces can help prevent spreading the virus to others.
Skin Infections
If you suspect you have a skin infection, having it evaluated at urgent care is important. Skin infections can worsen and spread, resulting in poor outcomes and complications.
A skin infection can start with something as simple as a cut, scrape, insect bite, or wound. Bacteria can invade the tissue, resulting in cellulitis (tissue infection). Improperly cleaned wounds and pet bites or scratches can become infected without proper care. Wound care and treatment with an antibiotic may be necessary to allow healing and prevent a worsening infection. Certain people are more susceptible to skin infections, including those with diabetes.
Our experienced providers can provide wound care, stitches, and appropriate treatment for a wide range of skin infections and rashes.
Ear Infections
Ear infections can happen in adults but are more common in children. You should seek help for ear discomfort in urgent care if:
- Your child’s ear pain is significant.
- Your child’s ear pain has lasted more than a day.
- Your child cannot sleep or is very fussy.
- Your child is having discharge (pus or fluid) from their ear.
CareWell: Your Trusted Home for Exceptional Care
CareWell Urgent Care has the resources you need for a prompt diagnosis. Having onsite labs and diagnostic testing that includes X-ray and EKG enables our providers to get to the bottom of your illness and start the appropriate treatment quickly.
For convenient, exceptional urgent care for your whole family, visit a location near you.
