Is it a cold? Is it the flu? Is it COVID? Is it¦allergies? These are some of the most common illnesses seen at Emmons. Learn the difference and how to care for yourself at home”and when to come in to see a provider.
*This information is designed to support and educate, but should not be used in the place of medical advice. Please see a medical provider to diagnose any illness and prescribe medications as needed.
Cold, Flu, COVID and Allergies | Urinary Tract Infections | Vaginitis
Cold, Flu, COVID, and Allergies
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What to Expect
- If you have a viral infection (Coronavirus, flu, or cold), you can expect the symptoms to last from a few days to two weeks.
- If you have seasonal allergies, you can expect the symptoms to improve with medications, but symptoms can continue throughout allergy season.
Treatment
Viral infections:
- Flu and COVID-19: There are antiviral medications that can help decrease the length of illness.
- Cold: there are no targeted antiviral medications because of the range of viruses that can cause colds
- Symptom relief: there are medications (many of them over-the-counter) that can help you with improving your symptoms. These include:
- Pain relief or fever-reducing medications
- Cough suppressants
- Mucus relief
- Decongestants
- Rest and fluids: your immune system is working to fight off the virus. Give it time and proper support to do its job!
Allergies:
- Medications can help, such as:
- Antihistamines
- Nasal sprays
- Eye drops
When to follow up
- If you have severe symptoms (especially if you suspect the flu)
- If you have fever >102 degrees F (39 degrees C), that does not respond to fever-reducing medications
- If you have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- If your symptoms last longer than 7-10 days
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Symptoms
- Pain with urination, needing to urinate more often, feeling like you can™t empty your bladder fully, lower abdominal pain or discomfort, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, blood in urine, nausea
Testing
- Urine test to detect the presence of bacteria
Treatment
- Antibiotics by mouth
- Medication to relieve pain and discomfort
When to follow up
- See a medical provider to diagnose the illness and prescribe medications
- No improvement in symptoms after taking antibiotics for 48-72 hours
- Symptoms include fever, chills, lower back pain
Vaginitis
Symptoms
- Vaginitis can be different types of infections, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), bacterial vaginosis, yeast or trichomonas
- Symptoms can include abnormal vaginal discharge, foul odor, irritation or discomfort of vaginal or genital area, lower abdominal or pelvic pain, pain with intercourse
Testing
- Sometimes these infections may resolve on their own or can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) medications
- A medical provider may require the following:
- Genital exam
- Urine testing
- Vaginal swab
Treatment
- Determined based on the cause of the infection. It could be:
- Antifungal treatment, by mouth or vaginal cream
- Antibiotic treatment, by mouth or vaginal gel
- Antiparasitic treatment, by mouth or vaginal gel
When to follow up
- If symptoms are moderate to severe or last longer than 7 days with OTC treatment
- If you saw a medical provider and there is no improvement in symptoms or symptoms worsen after taking treatment