Key Takeaways
Many health issues can be treated at urgent care instead of the emergency room.
- Conditions: Urgent care locations can treat flu, sinus infections, stomach bugs, pink eye and other minor injuries.
- Services: Many urgent care locations can do X-rays, on-site lab testings and IV fluids.
- Get Care: Need medical care right away? Find an urgent care location near you, or call 800-822-8905
Medically reviewed by Izhar Hasan, M.D. PhD., Family Medicine, Hackensack Meridian Health Urgent Care
When you’re sick or hurt and can’t see your primary care doctor, the emergency room can feel like your only option. But many conditions can be treated at urgent care instead.
Urgent care makes it fast and easy to get quality treatment, says Izhar Hasan, M.D, PhD., Medical Director and physician at several Hackensack Meridian Health Urgent Care locations.
Urgent care doctors can treat a wide range of non-life-threatening issues, from pink eye and skin rashes to the flu and minor injuries. Many locations offer on-site lab testing, IV fluids and even X-rays.
Urgent care can also save you time and money compared to the ER. Dr. Hasan says most of his patients are in and out within 30 minutes.
So, what does urgent care treat? Here are 10 common health issues you can take there.
1. Cold, Flu and Other Respiratory Infections
When you’re under the weather but your symptoms are mild (think runny nose, cough and congestion), rest, fluids and over-the-counter medication may be enough, Dr. Hasan says. But if symptoms don’t improve in 48 to 72 hours; you have a persistent fever; or you want testing for the flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or mononucleosis (mono), urgent care can help.
2. Sore Throat and Strep Throat
Severe sore throat, fever and painful swollen neck glands could mean you’re dealing with an infection like strep throat, viral pharyngitis, or mono, depending on your age, Dr. Hasan says. Urgent care doctors can test for strep with a rapid test and, when needed, a throat culture and then recommend the right treatment based on the results. If mono is suspected, your provider may recommend blood testing.
3. Sinus Infections
When fluid builds up in your sinuses, especially when the seasons change, it can cause an infection (also called acute sinusitis). You might have symptoms like thick, green mucus; sinus pain or pressure; congestion; and headaches, Dr. Hasan says. An urgent care doctor can evaluate your symptoms and recommend treatment, which may include saline spray, over-the-counter medicine, warm compresses, and antibiotics.
4. Stomach Bugs (Vomiting, Diarrhea, Nausea)
Whether you’ve been hit by food poisoning, an infectious stomach bug or traveler’s diarrhea, urgent care can help, Dr. Hasan says. A doctor can check for dehydration with a quick urine analysis, review possible causes and offer treatment such as nausea medicine, oral or IV fluids, or antibiotics.
5. Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) — which typically cause frequent, painful trips to the bathroom and sometimes blood in the urine — are one of the most common reasons people come to urgent care, Dr. Hasan says. Because doctors see them so often, the process for diagnosis and treatment is streamlined: You give a urine sample, and if it points to a UTI, they can prescribe antibiotics, so you feel better fast.
6. Pink Eye
Tearing, redness and discharge are telltale signs of pink eye (conjunctivitis), another common reason people visit urgent care, says Dr. Hasan. An urgent care doctor can pinpoint the cause of your symptoms and prescribe the right treatment, such as allergy medicine, eye drops or ointments.
7. Sprains, Strains and Minor Fractures
If you have a mild to moderate sprain or strain, or a minor fracture, consider urgent care. Urgent care doctors can assess the injury, order imaging with on-site X-ray machines, if needed, provide initial treatment and refer you to an orthopedic doctor or physical therapist.
And yes, some urgent cares can do X-rays: Most Hackensack Meridian Health Urgent Care locations have X-ray capability on-site, Dr. Hasan says. For severe injuries (obvious deformity, open fracture or loss of sensation), go to the ER.
8. Minor Cuts, Scrapes and Burns
If a cut is longer than the length of your fingertip, you need to be looked at right away, says Dr. Hasan. Urgent care doctors can handle minor cuts and scrapes. They can also assess the severity of burns and either treat you on the spot or send you to a specialist.
It’s important to note: Getting care quickly can improve healing and reduce scarring, Dr. Hasan says.
And yes, urgent care providers can usually do stitches or close wounds with staples or skin glue. They can also clean, disinfect and cover the area and check whether you need a tetanus booster.
9. Rashes and Skin Infections
Urgent care doctors can treat many minor skin conditions, including contact dermatitis, poison ivy and fungal infections such as athlete’s foot. Even if you need more specialized care, urgent care doctors can offer solutions that’ll hold you over until you can see a dermatologist, Dr. Hasan says.
He also suggests getting checked out as soon as possible for any shingles-like rash — a painful, blistering band that wraps around one side of the body or face — since antiviral treatments work best within 72 hours of the rash first appearing.
10. Mild to Moderate Asthma Flares
Dr. Hasan recommends seeking medical attention the moment you feel wheezing or chest tightening. For a mild to moderate flare, urgent care physicians can offer an albuterol nebulizer solution or a steroid medication.
If your symptoms are severe, your rescue inhaler isn’t helping, you can’t speak in full sentences, or your lips or nails look blue or gray, you should call 911 or go to the ER.
When to Go Straight to the ER
Some symptoms require a trip to the ER, not urgent care. Call 911 or go directly to the ER for:
- Chest pain or pressure
- Stroke symptoms (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, loss of balance or dizziness, vision changes)
- Severe head injury
- Severe asthma attack
- Signs of sepsis (high fever or very low temperature with confusion and rapid heart rate)
- Sudden severe headache
- Heavy, uncontrolled bleeding
- Sudden vision loss
- Sudden or unexplained shortness of breath
- Severe abdominal pain
- Bloody stool or coughing up blood
- Loss of sensation
- After a car accident
If you arrive at urgent care with emergency symptoms, doctors can stabilize you and arrange transfer to the ER, Dr. Hasan says.
Next Steps & Resources:
- Meet our source: Izhar Hasan, M.D.
- Learn more about our urgent care services.
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