What Is the Flu?
The flu is one of the most infectious conditions caused by a group of viruses. Although most patients recover from the flu, it can be life-threatening for those with a weakened immune system. The flu is a respiratory illness, and symptoms include fever, lethargy, chills, fatigue, sore throat, headache, and body ache.
The flu is more common during winter and early spring, and it’s best to get a preventive flu shot from our experienced team at Sherwood Urgent Care to prevent illness.
What Is a Strep Throat?
A painful sore throat or inflammation of the tonsils caused by bacteria is known as a ‘strep throat.’ Strep throats can be mild to severe and include fever, swollen tonsils, lymph nodes, sore throat, and fatigue. Strep throats can be extremely contagious, and the patient may take more than ten days to recover fully.
If you’re feeling feverish or have a sore throat, please visit our Sherwood Urgent Care for fast and reliable flu/strep testing.
Flu/Strep Testing at Sherwood Urgent Care
There are several upper respiratory infections, and it’s essential to get flu/strep throat testing. Once you get the results, you can schedule a follow-up appointment with one of our providers.
Strep throat testing is a non-invasive procedure that involves swabbing the throat and testing for the presence of infection-causing bacteria. For more complex cases of strep throat, we may recommend a throat culture.
For the flu test, our provider will use a cotton swab to collect a sample from the nasal cavity or the back of your throat and send it to the lab for testing. The results are available in just 15 to 30 minutes. We will determine the most effective medication or treatment based on the results. For example, antibiotics won’t work for viral flu. Our experienced providers will help you with medication, treatment, and aftercare.
Who should get a flu shot?
Sherwood Urgent Care providers recommend a yearly flu vaccine for anyone older than six months.
The flu vaccine is especially important for:
- Adults 50 and older
- Children 6 months to 4 years
- Pregnant women
- Anyone with a weakened immune system
- Residents of long-term care facilities
- Anyone with a chronic health condition, such as asthma, heart disease or kidney disease
- People who spend time with a person at risk for flu complications
The flu vaccine is not recommended for:
- Infants younger than 6 months
- Anyone who has had allergic reactions to past flu shots
- Anyone with allergies to eggs or other vaccine ingredients
- Anyone who currently has a fever
- Anyone who has had Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare condition in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves
What are the side effects of a flu shot?
It’s important to know that the flu vaccine cannot cause influenza. Although, mild side effects are possible. They include fever, headaches and tenderness in the arm where the shot was given. Serious side effects are rare. Please be aware that all vaccines carry a very small risk of severe allergic reaction. Go to the ER if you experience difficulty breathing, dizziness, a fast heartbeat or swelling in the face.
Want to Stay Safe This Flu Season? Let Us Help
At Sherwood Urgent Care we are dedicated to the health of our clients and our community. Our providers recommend a yearly flu vaccine for anyone older than six months. If you would like to schedule your annual flu shot or if you think you have the Flu, come see us so we can help to get you to feeling better today and back to your healthy self as soon as possible.