Hi there, I'm Kira Shepherd. When my kids were little, I spent a lot of time at the health care clinic. Children need an exam when they hurt themselves or run a high fever. Any other distressing symptoms are also best explored by a qualified physician. Thankfully, my local health care clinic always helped reassure me that the kids were healthy and developing well. I will share information about common diagnostic procedures and treatments performed at health care clinics. I will talk about alternatives, like going to the hospital or treating at home. My site will cover common symptoms and complications caused by a wide range of illness and injuries. Please visit my site often to learn more information. Thank you.
The urgent care clinic in your community is a good place to turn if you have a wound that doesn't require a hospital emergency department visit, but that you want to be treated before you'd likely be able to see your family doctor. If you've noticed what you believe to be an injury that has become infected somewhere on your body, this issue may require you to visit an urgent care clinic. While some minor infections will go away on their own, others can persist until they receive proper medical care. Here are some signs that your infection should compel you to drop into the local urgent care facility.
Swelling And Pain
The more serious an infection is, the more likely it is to swell. Swelling at the site can often cause discomfort. You may feel pressure in the area due to the infection. Often heat is present, too. For example, if you have an infected cut on your body, you'll often be able to feel that the affected area is hotter than the surrounding skin when you place your hand in these areas. Given that infections can worsen fairly quickly, you don't want your pain to increase. Visiting urgent care will provide relief for the swelling and pain.
Discharge
A minor infection can sometimes have a small discharge of pus. For example, if you put an adhesive bandage over a cut, the bandage may have a trace amount of pus on it when you remove it. More serious infections can often have more noticeable discharge. If you push or squeeze an infected area, a considerable amount of pus-filled discharge can appear. A large amount of discharge is an indicator that the infection is significant, so you'll want to seek help from an urgent care clinic.
Not Healing
Minor infections often clear up quickly, especially if you keep the area clean by washing it with soap and water. If you have a wound that is similar to others you've had in the past, you may have an approximate idea of how quickly the wound might heal. If the issue persists beyond this timeframe, especially if multiple signs of infection are present, you'll want to have a medical professional look at the wound. It's possible that the issue isn't clearing up in a timely manner because it's more serious than you realize. Visiting an urgent care clinic will give you access to whatever care you need.
Share