Back-to-school season brings excitement, but also common childhood illnesses. At EZCare Walk-In Medical Centers, we’re here to help you navigate sniffles and itches. Learn about strep throat, pink eye, and lice, and when to visit urgent care.
Strep Throat: More Than Just a Sore Throat
That scratchy, painful throat might be more than just a simple irritation. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that is highly contagious and common among school-aged children and teens.
Key Symptoms of Strep Throat:
- A sudden and severe sore throat
- Pain when swallowing
- Fever, often with a sudden onset
- Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
- Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Headache, stomach pain, and sometimes nausea or vomiting, especially in younger children
When to Visit EZCare Walk-In Medical Centers for Strep Throat: If you suspect your child has strep throat, it’s important to seek a proper diagnosis. A rapid strep test can be performed at our clinic, with results available within minutes. If the test is positive, our providers can prescribe antibiotics to help your child feel better faster, prevent the spread of the infection, and reduce the risk of more serious complications like rheumatic fever.
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis): The Red-Flag of a Contagious Infection
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is an inflammation or infection of the outer membrane of the eyeball and the inner eyelid. It’s notoriously contagious and can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or allergies.
Telltale Signs of Pink Eye:
- Redness in one or both eyes.
- Itchiness or a gritty feeling in the eye.
- A discharge that can form a crust overnight, sometimes making it difficult to open the eyes in the morning.
- Excessive tearing.
- Sensitivity to light.
When to Bring Your Child to EZCare Walk-In Medical Centers for Pink Eye: While some mild cases of viral pink eye may resolve on their own, it’s wise to have it checked out, especially if the symptoms are severe or if your child’s school has a policy regarding pink eye. At EZCare Walk-In Medical Centers, we can determine the cause of the pink eye. If it’s bacterial, we can prescribe antibiotic eye drops to speed up recovery and help your child get back to school sooner. If it’s related to allergies, we can recommend appropriate allergy medication.
Head Lice: An Unwelcome Classroom Visitor
The thought of head lice is enough to make any parent’s head itch. These tiny insects live on the scalp and are spread through close head-to-head contact, making schools a common place for them to be transmitted.
Common Symptoms of Head Lice:
- An itchy scalp, which is the most common symptom.
- A tickling feeling of something moving in the hair.
- Sores on the head caused by scratching.
- Difficulty sleeping, as lice are often more active in the dark.
- Visible nits (lice eggs) on the hair shafts, which look like tiny white or yellowish-brown specks and are difficult to remove.
When to Seek Help for Head Lice at EZCare Walk-In Medical Centers: While many cases of head lice can be managed with over-the-counter treatments, sometimes these are not effective. If you’re unsure if your child has lice, or if at-home treatments have failed, our team at EZCare Walk-In Medical Centers can help. We can confirm a diagnosis and recommend the most effective prescription treatments to get rid of the lice and nits for good. It’s especially important to see a healthcare provider if the scalp appears infected from scratching.
EZCare Walk-In Medical Centers is Here When You Need Us
Don’t let back-to-school illnesses disrupt your family’s routine. For prompt and reliable care for these common conditions and more, visit EZCare Walk-In Medical Centers. We’re here to provide the fast and effective treatment your child needs to get back to learning and having fun.
