Urgent Care in Logan Square: Same-Day Walk-In Care Near You
When you wake up with a sore throat that makes it painful to swallow or your child twists an ankle on the playground at Humboldt Park, you need medical care now. Not tomorrow. Not next week after your primary care doctor has an opening. Finding a fast urgent care Logan Square clinic is exactly what […]
STD Testing at Urgent Care: What’s Tested, How Fast, How Private
Quick answer: Urgent care std testing provides a fast way to check for sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also called STDs). A typical visit includes a brief, confidential conversation about symptoms and exposures, then a urine sample, a swab and/or a blood draw, depending on which infections are being checked. Common tests include chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, […]
How Long Does Pink Eye Last and When Can Kids Go Back to School?
Quick answer: Wondering how long does pink eye last? It depends on the cause. Viral pink eye usually lasts one to two weeks (sometimes up to three) and gets better without antibiotics. Bacterial pink eye often improves within two to five days and clears within about a week or so, faster with antibiotic drops or […]
Viral vs. Bacterial Pink Eye: Which One Needs Antibiotic Drops
Quick answer: Viral vs bacterial pink eye questions often lead to confusion: viral pink eye is the most common type in adults. It usually causes watery discharge, a gritty feeling and often comes with a cold or sore throat; it does not respond to antibiotics and typically clears in one to two weeks. Bacterial pink […]
Pink Eye or Allergies? The Tell-Tale Difference
Quick answer: When figuring out pink eye vs allergies, the biggest clue is itching. Eye allergies (allergic conjunctivitis) usually cause intense itching, watery eyes and redness in both eyes, often along with sneezing and a runny nose, and they are not contagious. Infectious pink eye (viral or bacterial conjunctivitis) more often feels gritty or burning, […]
Fluid Behind the Eardrum: Why Hearing Goes Muffled After a Cold
Quick answer: Having fluid in ear, clinically called middle ear effusion or otitis media with effusion, is a buildup of fluid behind the eardrum without the active signs of an infection. It commonly happens after a cold, allergy flare or ear infection when the eustachian tube does not drain properly. Typical symptoms are muffled hearing, […]
Are Ear Infections Contagious? What Spreads and What Doesn’t
Are ear infections contagious? Quick answer: No, ear infections themselves are not contagious. You cannot catch an ear infection from someone else’s ear. However, the colds, flu and other respiratory viruses that often lead to ear infections are contagious, so a child with an ear infection may still be spreading the virus that triggered it. […]
Chest Cold vs. Chest Congestion: What the Rattle Actually Means
Quick answer: When looking into chest cold symptoms, it helps to know that a chest cold is the everyday name for acute bronchitis, an inflammation of the airways usually caused by a virus. Its main signs are a persistent cough (often with mucus), chest tightness or soreness, mild wheezing, fatigue, and sometimes a low fever. […]
How Long Does Bronchitis Last and When a Cough Needs a Doctor
Quick answer: When wondering how long does bronchitis last, acute bronchitis usually lasts one to three weeks. Fever, aches and congestion typically improve within the first week, but the cough often lingers for two to three weeks, and sometimes longer, as the airways heal. Most cases are caused by viruses and go away on their […]
Bronchitis or Pneumonia? The Difference That Decides Your Treatment
Quick answer: When comparing bronchitis vs pneumonia, both conditions cause coughing, but they affect different parts of the lungs. Acute bronchitis is inflammation of the airways (the bronchial tubes) and is usually caused by a virus; it typically gets better on its own, though the cough can last up to three weeks. Pneumonia is an […]