5 Common Infections Treated Through Urgent Care

When you’re feeling unwell, it can be difficult to know whether you need immediate medical attention or if your symptoms can wait. Should you head to the emergency room, visit urgent care, or treat yourself at home?

At Peaks Medical and Urgent Care in Dillon, Colorado, we help patients navigate these decisions every day. While some conditions require emergency care and others can be managed at home, many fall into that middle ground where urgent care is your best option. We offer on-site X-rays and lab services, including COVID-19 testing, for accurate diagnosis.

Here are five common infections we treat at our clinic and the warning signs that indicate it’s time to seek professional medical care.

1. Sinusitis

Upper respiratory infections affect your sinuses, throat, and nasal passages. Your sinuses become breeding grounds for bacteria when they stay blocked and inflamed for extended periods. Unlike viral colds that peak around day three and gradually improve, bacterial sinus infections often worsen after the first week or improve briefly before getting worse again.

Warning signs to seek urgent care

Visit our team if you experience:

• Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improvement
• Severe headache or facial pain
• High fever, over 101.5°F
• Thick, colored nasal discharge with facial pain
• Difficulty breathing through your nose for several days

The combination of facial pain with colored discharge particularly signals bacterial involvement that requires antibiotic treatment.

2. Bronchitis

This inflammation in the lining of your bronchial tubes leads to persistent coughing and mucus production. Acute bronchitis often starts as a viral infection, but bacterial complications can develop when inflamed airways create perfect conditions for secondary infections. The telltale sign occurs when your initially dry cough begins producing mucus that changes color and consistency.

Warning signs to seek urgent care

We recommend visiting Peaks Medical and Urgent Care if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Cough producing blood or rust-colored mucus
• Difficulty breathing or wheezing
• Fever over 100.4°F that lasts more than three days
• Cough interfering with sleep for multiple nights
• Symptoms worsening after initial improvement

Coughing up blood warrants immediate evaluation, as this can indicate serious respiratory complications.

3. Influenza

The flu attacks your respiratory system more aggressively than common cold viruses. It can cause serious complications, especially in older adults and people with underlying health conditions.

Warning signs to seek urgent care

Come into our clinic if you experience symptoms such as:

• High fever over 103°F that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medication
• Severe body aches that prevent normal movement
• Persistent vomiting or signs of dehydration
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Symptoms that improve then suddenly worsen after 24-48 hours

That last point catches many people off guard. Flu symptoms that seem to resolve but then return with vengeance often indicate secondary bacterial infections.

4. COVID-19

This respiratory infection, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, affects people very differently. Some patients experience mild symptoms similar to a cold, while others develop serious respiratory complications. A COVID-19 infection primarily targets your respiratory system but can also affect other organs throughout your body.

Warning signs to seek urgent care

If you experience any of these symptoms, visit our clinic for an evaluation:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath during rest
• Persistent chest pain or pressure
• Confusion or difficulty staying awake
• High fever lasting more than three days
• Loss of taste or smell with worsening respiratory symptoms

Even if your other symptoms seem mild, seek urgent medical care if you have difficulty breathing.

5. Pneumonia

This infection ranks among the most serious ones we treat at urgent care. Pneumonia fills the air sacs in your lungs with fluid or pus, making oxygen exchange difficult and potentially dangerous. 

We diagnose pneumonia through physical examination and chest X-rays, and we start appropriate antibiotic treatment immediately. Early intervention prevents complications and speeds recovery.

Warning signs to seek urgent care

Don’t wait for an appointment if you notice worsening symptoms like:

• High fever with chills and sweating
• Sharp chest pain that worsens when breathing deeply
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Cough producing greenish or rust-colored mucus
• Extreme fatigue and weakness

Pneumonia can progress quickly, which makes prompt treatment essential.

Know when to act on infection symptoms

Learning to recognize the warning signs helps you get appropriate care at the right time. Most of these infections respond well to treatment when caught early, but delaying care can lead to complications or prolonged illness.

If you’re concerned about an acute respiratory infection, contact Peaks Medical and Urgent Care at 970-485-6826 or visit our walk-in clinic for prompt evaluation and treatment.