Should I Get an Over-the-Counter Pink Eye Drop Instead of Seeing a Doctor?

Some over-the-counter eye drops may help ease your symptoms. However, you should see a healthcare provider to determine the root cause of the symptoms, some of which can be serious infections that can threaten your vision.

What Are the Health Complications of Pink Eye?

Usually, pink eyes do not cause long-term complications. In rare cases, however, it can lead to chronic cornea inflammation, causing permanent vision problems. You should see an eye care specialist if your pink eye does not resolve or gets worse even after the treatment.

Can I Go to School or Work with a Pink Eye?

No! You should not go to school or work until your pink eye symptoms subside; viruses that are a common cause of pink eye are highly contagious.

How Can I Stop the Spread of Pink Eye?

Follow these to prevent the spread of pink eye: 1. Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes 2. Do not share cosmetics, eye care items, towels, pillows, contact lenses, and eyeglasses 3 . Wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching your eyes 4. Do not wear eye makeup 5. Use a clean towel and washcloth daily

How Can I Manage the Discomfort from Pink Eye?

To manage your discomfort, you should: 1. Use a cold compress or artificial tears to soothe the dryness and inflammation 2. Stop wearing contact lenses until the infection is gone

Pneumonia Treatment - FCCMG | Orange County, CA

Visit Family Care Centers’ Urgent Care Offices for Pneumonia Symptoms

Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by a viral or bacterial infection in the lungs. It causes the lungs to be inflamed with pus or fluids, resulting in breathing difficulty. While mild pneumonia can subside with over-the-counter medications and rest, severe pneumonia requires medical intervention, especially if a bacterial infection is the underlying cause.

Untreated bacterial pneumonia may cause permanent damage to your lungs, and the infection can also enter your bloodstream and affect other organs. That’s why it is essential to visit your healthcare provider as soon as you experience pneumonia symptoms. At FCCMG, we can rapidly diagnose and treat pneumonia; we are open seven days a week at our urgent care locations in Irvine, and Costa Mesa.

Highlights of Our Urgent Care Facilities

On-site x-ray and lab facilities
Open every day, including holidays
Online check-in to avoid wait times
Certified, well-trained, and experienced providers
Friendly and compassionate staff
Free parking

Reserve Your Spot Online!

Check for These Symptoms to Verify If It’s Pneumonia

Sometimes, pneumonia may be confused with bronchitis, a chest infection sharing similar symptoms with pneumonia. However, pneumonia and bronchitis are different conditions affecting different parts. While pneumonia can result from a viral, fungal, or bacterial infection affecting one or both lungs, bronchitis is usually caused by a viral infection and only affects the large air tubes connected with the lungs. Also, bronchitis is typically brief, lasting about a week, whereas pneumonia can last for several weeks, especially in people with chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems.

Common symptoms of pneumonia include:

Breathing difficulty
Wet cough
Fever
Chest pain while coughing or breathing
Fatigue

While you may have some of these symptoms with bronchitis, fever and difficulty breathing are more concerning signs for pneumonia.

When Should You Visit an Urgent Care Center for Pneumonia?

We recommend an urgent care evaluation for any concerning cough, but especially for symptoms such as:

Breathing difficulty or wheezing
A fever of 102 F or higher
Coughing brown or bright red mucus

How Can Our Urgent Care Providers Help with Your Pneumonia?

When you visit our urgent care center for pneumonia, we will begin with reviewing your symptoms and performing a physical examination. We will also listen to your lungs and perform office tests to see if you’re having trouble breathing (all our centers have x-ray capability).

Based on your symptoms and test results, we may recommend any of the following treatment options to treat your pneumonia:

Oral or IV Antibiotics – To treat bacterial pneumonia.
Anti-Inflammatory Medicines – To treat pneumonia symptoms, such as fever, inflammation, and pain while coughing/breathing.

What Considerations We Take for Pediatric Cases

Pneumonia is common in children, especially during the cold season. Childhood pneumonia is often caused by a viral infection such as the flu or cold, which may get better on its own or may be treated with antiviral medication, cough and fever medicines, and breathing treatment/oxygen therapy (if severe breathing problems persist). However, recurrent pneumonia may be a sign of respiratory tract anomalies, and in such circumstances, we may recommend a specialist consultation.

FAQs

Yes, FCCMG Urgent Care can diagnose and treat pneumonia. Our healthcare providers will assess your symptoms, perform necessary tests, and determine the appropriate treatment plan.

Common symptoms of pneumonia include cough (often with mucus), fever, chills, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, and sometimes nausea or vomiting. If you are experiencing these symptoms, visit FCCMG Urgent Care for evaluation and treatment.

FCCMG Urgent Care may use a combination of physical exams, blood tests, and imaging (like a chest X-ray) to diagnose pneumonia. We may also ask about your medical history and symptoms to help confirm the diagnosis.

A chest X-ray may be required to confirm the diagnosis of pneumonia, especially if your symptoms suggest a lung infection. Our healthcare providers will determine if an X-ray is necessary based on your symptoms and examination.

Viral pneumonia is typically caused by viruses like the flu or COVID-19, while bacterial pneumonia is caused by bacterial infections, often requiring antibiotics. FCCMG Urgent Care will determine the cause of your pneumonia and recommend the appropriate treatment.

If you are experiencing mild to moderate pneumonia symptoms, FCCMG Urgent Care can provide immediate treatment. However, if you are having severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, confusion, or high fever that doesn’t respond to medication, you should go to the emergency room.

If your pneumonia is bacterial, FCCMG Urgent Care may prescribe antibiotics. For viral pneumonia, treatments will focus on symptom relief, such as cough suppressants or fever reducers. Our healthcare providers will recommend the best course of action based on the type of pneumonia.

Yes, both children and seniors can be treated at FCCMG Urgent Care for pneumonia. However, if they have severe symptoms or underlying health conditions, further evaluation may be needed.

Follow-up care may be necessary, especially for more severe cases or if your symptoms persist. FCCMG Urgent Care may recommend a follow-up visit or referral to a specialist to ensure complete recovery.

Most insurance plans cover pneumonia evaluations and treatments at FCCMG Urgent Care, but coverage may vary. We recommend checking with your insurance provider to confirm coverage details before your visit.