Cold, Cough, Flu & Respiratory Infections Treatment in Orange County CA

Urgent Care for Cough, Cold, Flu, and Other Respiratory Infections

Respiratory infections (like the common cold and flu) can affect anyone at any time. While some respiratory infections can go away on their own, others like the flu and bronchitis may cause serious complications if they aren’t treated properly.

At our urgent care centers in Orange County, CA, we treat cough, cold, flu, and other respiratory infections with prompt and personalized care.

Highlights of Our Facilities

Open every day
On-site lab and X-ray facilities for immediate diagnosis
Certified, well-trained, and experienced providers
Friendly and compassionate on-board staff
Online check-in to get seen quickly
Free parking

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Cold Symptoms and When You Should Seek Medical Help

The common cold is a contagious respiratory infection that affects your nose, sinuses, throat, and trachea. It is more prevalent in spring and winter.

Causes

While many viruses can cause a cold, rhinoviruses are the most common. These viruses spread through the air when the infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Therefore, you will likely contract the infection if you stay near someone who has a cold or by sharing utensils or objects with them.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually begin one to three days after contracting a cold. These symptoms include:

Sneezing
Sore throat
Low-grade fever
Runny or stuffy nose

Cough
Watery eyes
Headache or body pain
Nasal congestion

When Do You Need an Urgent Care Visit?

Generally, the common cold does not require medical treatment and will go away on its own within 7-10 days. However, visit our urgent care facility if you have persistent or severe symptoms, including:

Recurrent fever or a fever above 101.3 F, lasting more than 3 days
Wheezing
Ear pain
Drowsiness
Shortness of breath
Severe body aches, headache, sore throat, or sinus pain
A persistent cough

How Do We Diagnose and Treat the Common Cold?

We diagnose the common cold based on your symptoms and their duration. Most colds resolve on their own within 7–10 days, but if symptoms persist or worsen, a healthcare provider may evaluate for other conditions such as sinus infections, bronchitis, or pneumonia.

If necessary, we may perform a physical examination and recommend additional tests, such as a nasal or throat swab, to rule out other infections. In most cases, over-the-counter medications like decongestants, cough suppressants, and antihistamines can help relieve symptoms. Rest, hydration, and proper nutrition also support recovery. If a bacterial infection is suspected, an antibiotic may be prescribed. Our urgent care team is here to provide quick and effective treatment to help you feel better faster.

How Flu Differs the Common Cold

Influenza, or the flu, is a highly contagious viral infection that affects the lungs. While the flu and the common cold share many similar symptoms, the key difference lies in their severity. The flu tends to develop suddenly with more intense symptoms, while cold symptoms appear gradually and are typically milder, often limited to a sore throat, runny nose, and congestion without significant fever, body aches, or fatigue.

Common flu symptoms are:

Fever
Aching muscles and joints
Chills
Headache or body pain
Sore throat
Vomiting and diarrhea (common in children and more likely from flu)
Dry, persistent cough
Fatigue
Runny or stuffy nose

Flu Test, Vaccine, and Symptom Treatments at Family Care Centers

Unlike colds, the flu occurs seasonally, between November and March (occasionally into the early Summer). It is also important to know that symptoms alone won’t strictly determine whether you have a cold, flu. That is why at our urgent care centers, we discuss testing options for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Depending on your symptoms and severity of the infection, our flu treatment may include:

Antiviral medications
Pain relievers

The best way to reduce your risk from respiratory viruses is a layered approach to reducing your risks, including hand washing, mask use, and vaccinations for influenza. We provide flu shots every year during flu season at all our urgent care centers.

Other Respiratory Infections We Treat at Our Urgent Care Centers

We treat other respiratory infections that cause flu and cold-like symptoms, including:

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (Affecting Nose, Throat, and Sinuses)

Laryngitis (inflammation or irritation of the voice box)
Sinusitis (Swelling or inflammation of the sinuses – tissues around the nasal passages)
Tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils – two oval-shaped tissue pads at the back of the throat)

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (Affecting Lungs and Airways)

Pneumonia (inflammation of the air sacs in one or both lungs)
Bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchial tubes that carry air to and from the lungs)
Acute otitis media (middle ear infection)
Bronchiolitis (lung infection, common in children and infants)

If you have the flu, or any other respiratory infection, visit one of our urgent care centers in Irvine, or Costa Mesa, CA, today for the right diagnosis and treatment for you. To avoid wait times, you can reserve your spot online.