Acute Illness
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Med South Primary Care
Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician, and Physician Assistant located in Stockbridge, GA
When you aren’t feeling well, you need a doctor you can trust to make your health a priority. Med South Primary Care in Stockbridge, Georgia, puts their patients first. Are you suffering from the symptoms of a common cold? Do you have a urinary tract infection? Ira C. Robinson II, MD, and his primary care team offer comprehensive care for these and other acute illnesses. To schedule a visit with the team, call Med South Primary Care, or book an appointment online now.
Acute Illness Q&A
What is an acute illness?
An acute illness typically develops suddenly and doesn’t last very long. Unlike a chronic condition that gradually unfolds over 3-6 months and can last years, an acute illness often lasts days or a few weeks.
What causes an acute illness?
Viral and bacterial infections typically cause acute illnesses. However, you can also develop an acute illness after a sudden injury or misuse of medication. Because they aren’t as gradual or slow-growing as chronic conditions, acute illnesses sometimes require urgent care.
What are the most common acute illnesses?
Some of the most common acute illnesses that the Med South Primary Care team treats at their office include:
Common cold
Most people with the common cold experience little more than a runny nose, sore throat, slight fever, congestion, and/or a cough. Without early intervention, the common cold can get worse and lead to a more severe condition like strep throat and bronchitis.
Flu
Influenza, or the flu, shares similar symptoms with the common cold, but they typically feel worse. In addition to a sore throat, congestion, cough, and a runny nose, you can also suffer a high fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches, and a loss of appetite.
Sinusitis
Commonly known as a sinus infection, sinusitis happens when the cavities that surround your nasal passages become inflamed and filled with fluid bacteria. If you have sinusitis, you can feel congested or tired.
Many people also suffer frequent headaches and facial pain brought on by sinusitis.
UTI
A urinary tract infection can happen in any part of the urinary system, including the bladder, urethra, and ureters. Most UTIs show up in the lower tract, leading to pain, a persistent urge to urinate, and difficulties urinating.
While men can get UTIs, they’re more common in women.
Strep throat
Strep throat, a bacterial infection, causes severe throat pain. Your throat will feel sore, tender, and scratchy. It can hurt to swallow, and you might notice small pus-filled spots in the back of your throat or on your tonsils.
Bronchitis
The bronchial tubes help carry oxygen to your lungs. When the lining of these tubes becomes inflamed, you’ll experience troubled, painful breathing, coughing, and/or thickened mucus.
Primary care physicians undergo specialized training to diagnose and treat many acute illnesses. To schedule an appointment with the Med South Primary Care team, call the office today or book an appointment online.
How do you treat acute illnesses?
Many acute illnesses will resolve on their own without any specific treatment. Most upper respiratory infections are viral which do
not respond to antibiotics. Vitamin D may prevent and limit the extent of viral infections including influenza and coronaviruses.
Zinc has also been proven to assist the body’s immune system in eradicating viral infections if started very soon after onset of symptoms.
Dr. Robinson and his team strongly advise that you begin taking a daily multivitamin and recommend getting your vitamin D level checked regularly particularly during this COVID19 pandemic. However, there are also those acute infections that may require antibiotics in order to prevent more severe consequences including hospitalization.
Dr. Ira C. Robinson II and his highly qualified team are well equipped and willing to help you sort out this very question. Call Med South Primary Care today to schedule an appointment for your acute illness.
