Flu & COVID Testing and Respiratory Illness Care

Rapid flu and COVID tests are done at the clinic and the result is read in the same visit. Walk-in, Monday through Sunday.

What happens at the visit?

• Rapid influenza and COVID-19 testing with a nasal sample
• Examination of throat, ears and lungs
• Oxygen and temperature measurement
• Rapid strep test if sore throat is the main symptom
• Treatment set out in the same visit

Flu, COVID or a cold?

The symptoms overlap so much that telling them apart by eye is not reliable. Flu tends to start suddenly, with high fever and body aches; a cold builds gradually and rarely brings high fever; COVID can resemble either. That is why testing is used: treatment changes with the result.

Why coming early matters

Influenza antivirals work best when started within the first 48 hours of symptoms appearing, according to the CDC. After that window they still have a role in some cases, but the benefit is smaller. If you have fever and body aches, do not wait to see if it passes.

What else is treated?

Bronchitis, persistent cough, pharyngitis, sinusitis and asthma flare-ups. Not every respiratory infection needs an antibiotic: most are viral and an antibiotic does not help. The visit is precisely for telling which is which.

When to go to the emergency room

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath at rest
• Chest pain or pressure that does not ease
• Bluish lips or face
• Confusion or difficulty waking up
• High fever in a small child that does not come down with medication

Prevention

Each season's flu vaccine is given under vaccines, walk-in. It lowers the risk of severe illness, especially in people over 65, pregnant women and those with diabetes or asthma.