When a Sore Throat Warrants a Trip to Urgent Care

There are many potential causes of a sore throat, most of them benign. However, a sore throat that persists or is accompanied by certain other symptoms could be cause for concern.

Have a sore throat? Wondering if you should get it checked out? While a sore throat can be a relatively mild reaction to an allergen or be associated with a cold, it could also be a sign of something more serious. If your sore throat is severe, lasts for a long time, or is present along with other worrisome symptoms, a trip to urgent care can help.

At Low Cost Health Clinics, Shruti Patel, MD, and our team of health care providers can investigate your sore throat and narrow down the likely causes. In most cases, we can provide you with the treatment you need on the spot. Here’s how to tell if your sore throat warrants a visit to our offices.

Sore throat for more than two weeks

A sore throat that hangs around and won’t go away is something to have checked out, especially if you are also experiencing hoarseness. If you can’t get a prompt appointment with your primary care provider, you can visit our office and we can look for the root cause of your pain.

Sore throat and fever

Fever is a sign of infection. A low-grade fever with a sore throat could mean it’s just a common cold, but if you have both a sore throat and a high fever it could be strep throat or tonsillitis. If your fever starts to spike, it’s best to get checked out. We perform visual exams to check for tonsillitis and can run strep swab tests to check for infection.

Sore throat and difficulty swallowing or breathing

If your throat is sore and inflamed to the point that it’s difficult to eat, drink, or breathe, you should visit our urgent care facility sooner rather than later. (If you can’t get air in through your nose either, you may need to call 9-1-1.)

Sore throat and STD exposure

If you have a sore throat, and think that you may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease (STD) like gonorrhea or chlamydia, it’s important to let us know so we can run the correct tests. Both of these STDs can cause a sore throat, but fortunately, both are completely treatable.

Sore throat and other concerning symptoms

You should also visit our facility if you have a sore throat (especially a persistent or recurring one) and any of these symptoms:

A lump in your neck, or swelling in your neck or face
Difficulty opening your mouth
Joint pain
Earache
Rash
Blood in your saliva or sputum

Worried about your sore throat? We can help. Call one of our offices in Anaheim, Riverside, Santa Ana, Corona, or Indio, California.