Yes, urgent care centers can diagnose and treat pneumonia. They can perform a physical exam, review your medical history, and order tests like a chest x-ray to confirm or rule out pneumonia.
Can Urgent Care Tell Me If I Have Pneumonia?
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Recommended Reading: Can I Travel With Pneumonia?
How Urgent Care Diagnoses Pneumonia
- Medical History and Physical Exam:A doctor will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and perform a physical examination, including listening to your lungs.
- Diagnostic Tests:They may order a chest x-ray to visualize your lungs and look for signs of pneumonia, as well as blood tests and possibly a sputum test.
- Determining the Cause:Urgent care can differentiate between bacterial and viral pneumonia to determine the appropriate treatment, which may include antibiotics or antivirals.
When to Seek Urgent Care
- If you have symptoms like a cough, shortness of breath, fever, chest pain, and fatigue.
- If you have a fever that persists or worsens.
- If you have difficulty breathing or severe pain.
- If you are in a high-risk group (e.g., young children, older adults, those with weakened immune systems).
Important Note
If you experience severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, chest pain, or high fever, or if you are in a high-risk group, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention at an emergency room, according to NextCare Urgent Care.
