A respiratory illness can produce varied symptoms and come in several forms, including those described below.

Common Cold

The average adult has two to three colds per year. Typical cold symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, coughing, headache, sore throat and general aches and pains.

Sore Throat

Approximately 10 percent of urgent care visits are due to sore throat. You may require a test to determine if bacteria or a virus caused your sore throat since the cause affects the treatment.

Bronchitis

This involves an infection of the bronchial tubes that transport air to your lungs. It causes a wet, persistent cough that can become strong enough to cause rib pain. Fever and chills are additional symptoms.

Flu

Flu, also known as influenza, peaks in the winter between December and March. Although symptoms may mimic a cold at first, they become more serious quickly. A quick visit to urgent care will let you know if you have a cold or the flu.

Sinus Infection

Also known as sinusitis, this starts with a cold or another type of respiratory infection. Pain and swelling of the sinuses are some of the first symptoms.

RSV/Bronchiolitis

Symptoms associated with this common respiratory ailment include cough, congestion, wheezing and low-grade fever. RSV is a virus that usually causes bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis often starts as a common cold and progresses to more severe symptoms.

Norovirus

Norovirus is a highly contagious stomach bug most common in the winter. Typical symptoms, which usually disappear within a few days, include vomiting and diarrhea. Be sure to drink plenty of clear liquids while ill with norovirus to prevent dehydration.

How Seasons Affect Sickness

Does it seem like the more the temperature drops outside, the more you and your family become ill? While that’s a reality for many families, the reasons might not be what you would expect. Rather than rain, snow, or general dampness causing respiratory illness, the most common cause is spending more time indoors in close quarters with others. When the distance between another person and us is less than three feet, people are far more likely to transmit viruses back and forth to one another.

Since viruses tend to live longer when the temperature is cold and humidity is low, winter is the ideal breeding grounds not only for respiratory illness but stomach bugs and other highly contagious illnesses. Although you can’t avoid other people entirely, you can stay away from those who show obvious symptoms of illness. Washing your hands multiple times a day is also helpful.

Visit Urgent Care in Cold and Flu Season and Beyond

When you have tried home remedies and still feel miserable, head to PrimeCare Urgent Care for prompt treatment. With low wait times and availability seven days a week, we will have you feeling better in no time.