Bronchitis Treatment in Magnolia & Vintage Park, TX
Also known as a chest cold, bronchitis is a common viral infection that causes airway inflammation. Some telltale signs include a persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, and a low-grade fever. Does this sound familiar? It might, since you’re probably aware that you should be vigilant for the symptoms of COVID-19, which are essentially the same. Therefore, don’t be tempted to write off your illness as a run-of-the-mill chest cold. Instead, you should see a medical provider who can pinpoint the cause.
The team at Medella Urgent Care in Magnolia or Vintage Park, Texas, can provide a proper diagnosis. And whether you have bronchitis or COVID-19, we can suggest an appropriate treatment plan to help you recover and avoid infecting others, as both illnesses are contagious.
What If You Have Bronchitis?
Usually, a bout of bronchitis will clear up on its own within a few days to a week. Until then, you should avoid close contact with others and pay close attention to your symptoms. As you recover, your dry, hacking cough should gradually transition into a productive cough. In addition to a low-grade fever, you may also experience fatigue, chills, body aches, fatigue, a sore throat, and a runny nose. Seek medical attention right away if you feel very uncomfortable or seem to be getting worse instead of better. If left untreated, severe bronchitis can become chronic or progress into pneumonia.
What If You Have (or Think You Have) COVID-19?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you are confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people. If you have symptoms, wait until 24 hours after your fever breaks or 10 days after your symptoms first appeared, whichever is later. If you were exposed to someone who had COVID-19 but do not have symptoms yourself, wait until 14 days after your last exposure. Researchers believe that infected people may become contagious approximately two days before their symptoms develop (if any) and remain so for up to 10 days afterward.
Medella Urgent Care is your trusted source of COVID-19 testing, bronchitis treatment, and a full slate of other non-emergency urgent care services. To learn more, contact us today or visit our walk-in urgent care centers in Magnolia or Vintage Park, TX.
