Treating a Fever at Urgent Care or the Emergency Room

A fever takes place when someone experiences a higher internal body temperature than normal. The average internal human needs to be around 98.6 degrees. It’s understandable to think that a fever has to be above the standard temperature of 98.6 degrees which isn’t true. In fact, a fever can take place that involves someone having a lower than normal body temperature. Considering that, it’s important to know the difference between a fever treated at an urgent care and the emergency room.

Treating a Fever at Urgent Care

Many people visit a walk in clinic to seek relief from a fever. You might wonder should I go to urgent care? Patients often cite the quick treatment time as the main reason to visit an urgent care facility for treatment. In fact, statistics show that nearly 60% of all urgent care facilities have a wait time of fewer than 15 minutes for a patient to begin visiting a physician. The average fever is going to make anyone feel bad. There are symptoms of less intense fevers that you’ll want to learn about. If your fever is accompanied by vomiting, loose stool, and a sore throat, it’s best to seek to out a nearby urgent care facility.

Another important factor to consider with a fever is how long it lasts. A fever that is low in terms of intensity becomes concerning if it doesn’t break. It makes sense that someone is going to ask themselves when should I go to urgent care if a fever doesn’t break? Most fevers tend to break within a few days but some can last a few weeks. If you don’t want to let a fever break on its own, many urgent care locations can provide you with treatment to speed up a break any day of the week. In fact, 85% of all urgent care centers are open seven days a week to treat patients.

When a Fever Requires an Emergency Room Visit

Statistics show that 44-65% of all emergency room visits could have been taken care of at an urgent care. In fact, many patients with fevers have to be turned away to an urgent care facility for treatment. Certain fever symptoms are often strong indicators that you need to get to an emergency room. Symptoms of more severe fevers include constant vomiting, trouble breathing, and vision difficulties.

In summary, there are different types of fever in which some are more severe than others. It makes perfect sense to ask should I go to urgent care or the ER for a fever? A fever is normally accompanied by symptoms including mild diarrhea and a sore throat. Many people find that a fever breaks naturally on its own within a few days. The breaking of a fever simply refers to when your body temperature regulates itself back to 98.6 degrees. Certain forms of fever are far more severe. If you’re experiencing vision problems, difficulties breathing, and constant loss of fluids, it’s best to visit the emergency room.