Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Pneumonia symptoms include cough, fever, chills, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. If pneumonia is suspected, urgent care can perform tests to diagnose it so proper treatment can begin right away.
What tests can urgent care do for pneumonia?
There are several tests that urgent care uses to diagnose pneumonia:
- Chest x-ray: An x-ray of the chest allows the doctor to see inflammation in the lungs that indicates pneumonia. It can also help locate the infection and determine how advanced it is.
- Blood tests: A complete blood count (CBC) is done to check white blood cell count, which is usually elevated with infections like pneumonia. Blood tests can also show electrolyte and fluid abnormalities that can occur.
- Pulse oximetry: This non-invasive test measures oxygen saturation in the blood using a finger clip device. Low oxygen levels are common with pneumonia.
- Sputum culture: A sample of mucus coughed up from the lungs is taken and sent to the lab to determine if bacteria are present and identify which ones. This helps target antibiotic treatment.
- Flu test: If it’s flu season, a rapid flu test may be done using a nasal swab to rule out the flu as the cause.
When should you go to urgent care for pneumonia?
You should go to urgent care right away if you experience pneumonia symptoms, including:
- Cough with greenish, yellow, or bloody mucus
- Fever of 101 F (38.3 C) or higher
- Chills and body aches
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Sharp or painful chest wall when breathing or coughing
- Feeling very tired or weak
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Rapid, shallow breathing
Pneumonia can quickly become a dangerous, life-threatening infection. Urgent care provides faster treatment than waiting for a regular doctor’s appointment. Pneumonia often requires prescription antibiotic treatment and breathing treatments that urgent care can provide.
Who is at higher risk for pneumonia?
Those at increased risk of developing pneumonia include:
- Adults age 65 and older
- Children under age 2
- People with weakened immune systems
- Patients with chronic illnesses like heart or lung disease, diabetes, cancer
- Smokers
- People recently hospitalized or living in long-term care facilities
Pneumonia can be deadly for high-risk individuals, so it’s critical to seek medical attention quickly if symptoms develop.
How does urgent care diagnose pneumonia?
Urgent care uses the following approaches to diagnose pneumonia:
- Medical history – The doctor will ask about your symptoms, when they started, any underlying medical conditions, and potential pneumonia exposure.
- Physical exam – Listening to the lungs with a stethoscope can reveal crackling sounds indicating pneumonia. The doctor will also check your temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.
- Chest x-ray – This gives the doctor visual confirmation of lung inflammation and the location and extent of infection.
- Pulse oximetry – Low oxygen saturation in the blood below 92% can indicate pneumonia.
- Lab tests – Blood and sputum samples may be sent for analysis to pinpoint the organism causing the illness.
These diagnostic tools allow urgent care to rapidly and accurately diagnose pneumonia for prompt treatment.
What pneumonia treatments does urgent care provide?
Treatment for pneumonia provided by urgent care includes:
- Prescription antibiotics – Oral antibiotics are given to fight the bacterial infection causing the pneumonia based on lab test results.
- Nebulizer treatments – Breathing treatments are given using a machine that delivers medication in mist form directly into the lungs to open airways.
- Cough medicine – Cough suppressants, expectorants, and anti-inflammatories can provide pneumonia cough relief.
- Fever reducers – Medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen help reduce fever and body aches.
- Supplemental oxygen – If oxygen levels are very low, oxygen may be administered through a nasal cannula or oxygen mask.
- Chest splint – A tight band placed around the chest can ease sharp chest pains with breathing.
- Intravenous fluids – IV hydration provides needed fluids and electrolytes if a patient is dehydrated or unable to keep down liquids.
These treatments work to fight infection, improve breathing, loosen and clear mucus from the lungs, ease discomfort, and support the body while recovering.
When should someone be hospitalized for pneumonia?
Urgent care may recommend emergency hospitalization for pneumonia if:
- Oxygen levels drop dangerously low despite treatment
- Breathing becomes extremely difficult and won’t improve with nebulizers
- The patient has high fever unresponsive to medication
- Confusion, dizziness, or falling blood pressure occur
- The patient is elderly or has significant underlying health conditions
- Pneumonia isn’t improving quickly with oral antibiotics
- Chest x-ray shows extensive pneumonia infection
- The patient is unable to keep down any food, fluids or medications
Hospitalization allows more aggressive pneumonia treatment with intravenous antibiotics, breathing machines if needed, and intensive medical monitoring and support.
What’s the best way to prevent pneumonia?
You can reduce your risk of getting pneumonia by:
- Getting vaccinated – Vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and pneumonia bacteria are recommended.
- Not smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke.
- Washing hands thoroughly and often.
- Covering coughs and sneezes to prevent spreading germs.
- Avoiding contact with sick people when possible.
- Eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep.
- Treating underlying chronic illnesses.
Taking preventive measures can help avoid this serious lung infection requiring urgent medical care. See your doctor regularly and catch up on all recommended vaccines.
Conclusion
Pneumonia requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Urgent care provides faster medical attention than waiting for a regular doctor’s visit when pneumonia symptoms arise. They can perform chest x-rays and lab work to pinpoint the cause, and provide necessary prescriptions, breathing treatments, supplemental oxygen, and other supportive therapies. Urgent care also determines if hospitalization is required for more severe pneumonia cases. By getting evaluated quickly, starting antibiotics, and following treatment instructions, most cases of pneumonia can successfully resolve.