Urgent care facilities often diagnose and treat mild to moderate cases of pneumonia, an infection causing inflammation and fluid buildup in the lungs. Seeking care at an urgent care center is typically appropriate for healthy adults experiencing symptoms like a persistent cough, fever, and shortness of breath. This setting is best suited for managing community-acquired pneumonia that does not involve severe respiratory distress.
The Urgent Care Diagnostic Process
Diagnosis at an urgent care center begins with a physical examination and a review of the patient’s medical history. The provider listens to the lungs with a stethoscope, checking for abnormal sounds like crackling, bubbling, or decreased air movement. These sounds can indicate fluid or inflammation, helping to differentiate pneumonia from less serious respiratory infections like bronchitis or a severe cold.
Pulse oximetry is a standard bedside test performed immediately to measure the oxygen saturation level in the blood. Pneumonia impairs the lungs’ ability to transfer oxygen, so a low reading is a significant indicator of the infection’s severity. Most urgent care centers have in-house X-ray capabilities. X-rays are necessary to confirm the diagnosis and determine the extent of the infection, revealing areas of consolidation or fluid accumulation in the lung tissue.
Rapid molecular tests may be used to check for common viral causes of respiratory illness, such as influenza or COVID-19. These viruses can mimic or precede a bacterial pneumonia infection. Although these tests do not diagnose bacterial pneumonia directly, the results inform the overall treatment plan. Some facilities may also perform basic blood tests to check for an elevated white blood cell count, which signals the body is fighting an infection.
Treatment Options Provided by Urgent Care
For confirmed or suspected bacterial community-acquired pneumonia, the primary treatment involves prescription antibiotics. Medication choice is based on the patient’s health, potential drug allergies, and local resistance patterns. Treatment often includes a macrolide like azithromycin or a tetracycline such as doxycycline. Patients with underlying health conditions may receive combination therapy, such as amoxicillin/clavulanate plus a macrolide, or a respiratory fluoroquinolone, to cover a broader range of bacteria.
The urgent care provider also focuses on supportive care to manage uncomfortable symptoms. This commonly includes prescribing cough suppressants to allow for rest. However, complete elimination of the cough is usually avoided, as coughing is the body’s mechanism for clearing mucus from the lungs. Over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen are recommended for managing fever and body aches.
Patients experiencing wheezing or asthma-like symptoms may receive nebulizer treatments in the clinic to open the airways. The goal is to provide necessary medications and instructions for the patient to manage the infection safely at home. Patients are instructed to begin the full course of antibiotics immediately, even if they start to feel better within a few days.
When Pneumonia Requires Emergency Care
Severe symptoms indicate a patient’s condition is too serious for urgent care and requires the advanced resources of an emergency room (ER). Urgent care facilities are not equipped for complex respiratory support, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or intubation. They also cannot facilitate immediate hospital admission for severe cases. Patients must go directly to the ER if they experience severe shortness of breath that makes it difficult to speak or catch their breath.
Other red flags necessitate immediate emergency evaluation:
- A pulse oximetry reading that is dangerously low (typically below 90% or 92%), indicating inadequate oxygen supply to the body’s organs.
- Confusion, sudden mental status changes, or severe dizziness, which signal the brain is not receiving enough oxygen.
- Severe chest pain that is sharp or stabbing.
- An inability to keep fluids or medications down due to persistent vomiting.
Post-Treatment Care and Follow-Up
After receiving treatment, patients should expect clinical improvement within 48 to 72 hours of starting antibiotic therapy. It is important to continue the medication for the full prescribed duration, even if symptoms decrease, to ensure complete eradication of the bacteria and prevent antibiotic resistance. Resting and maintaining adequate fluid intake are important self-care measures that aid the body’s recovery process.
A complete recovery from pneumonia can take longer than expected, with general fatigue sometimes lasting for several weeks after the infection clears. Patients should schedule a follow-up appointment with their primary care physician (PCP) to ensure the infection is resolving appropriately. The PCP may recommend a follow-up chest X-ray, particularly for individuals over 65, smokers, or those with underlying health issues, to confirm the lung inflammation has fully cleared.