You can go to an urgent care clinic for a sore throat. While most sore throats are caused by viruses and resolve on their own, professional diagnosis is needed to rule out a bacterial infection, most notably Strep throat. Bacterial infections require antibiotic treatment to prevent serious complications like rheumatic fever or kidney inflammation. Urgent care centers provide quick evaluation and treatment for non-life-threatening conditions that cannot wait for a primary care appointment.
When Urgent Care Is the Right Choice
A moderate level of discomfort or symptoms that persist beyond a typical cold suggests an urgent care visit. Seek evaluation if your sore throat has lasted for more than 48 hours without improvement, or if it is accompanied by a fever higher than 101°F. Unlike a viral sore throat, which often comes with a cough and runny nose, a bacterial infection like Strep throat may present solely with throat pain and fever.
Other signs suggesting a bacterial cause include visible white patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils and swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck. Difficulty or pain when swallowing liquids or food warrants testing. Seeking care allows for rapid testing and the appropriate initiation of antibiotics to prevent complications.
Symptoms Requiring Emergency Care
Certain severe symptoms indicate a medical emergency and require a visit to the Emergency Room (ER) rather than an urgent care clinic. Any severe difficulty with breathing or the feeling that your throat is closing should prompt an immediate call to emergency services. These symptoms can signal a severe infection or a developing abscess that is compromising your airway.
You should also bypass urgent care if you experience an inability to open your mouth fully, known as trismus, or if you have excessive drooling. A muffled or “hot potato” voice, along with a stiff neck, suggests a deep-seated infection or abscess requiring immediate hospital care. Severe, one-sided throat swelling that is worsening rapidly is a red flag for a potential peritonsillar abscess.
What Happens During a Sore Throat Visit
Once you arrive at the urgent care center, the visit begins with an initial assessment, which includes checking your vital signs and reviewing your medical history and current symptoms. The healthcare provider will then perform a physical examination, focusing on your throat by looking for redness, swelling, and the presence of white or red patches on the tonsils. They will also check your neck for swollen lymph nodes.
If a bacterial infection, particularly Strep throat, is suspected, a diagnostic test will be performed. This typically involves a rapid Strep test, where a swab is gently rubbed across the back of the throat to collect a sample. This test provides results quickly, allowing for immediate treatment planning. If the rapid test is negative but clinical suspicion remains high, especially in children, the provider may send a sample for a throat culture, which takes 24 to 48 hours for definitive results.
Common Diagnoses and Treatment Options
A sore throat can be caused by various factors, and the treatment depends on the correct diagnosis. The most frequent cause is viral pharyngitis, which does not respond to antibiotics. For viral infections, treatment is supportive, focusing on symptom management with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
If the rapid test confirms Strep throat, the provider will prescribe an antibiotic. It is important to complete the entire course of antibiotics, typically a 10-day regimen, even if symptoms improve quickly, to fully eradicate the bacteria and prevent complications. Mononucleosis is another possible diagnosis, for which treatment is supportive, primarily involving rest and avoiding strenuous activity.
In cases where the sore throat is linked to allergies, treatment may involve antihistamines. The urgent care provider determines whether the infection is bacterial or viral, ensuring that antibiotics are prescribed only when appropriate to combat antibiotic resistance. They will also provide specific guidance on home care.