Urgent care centers provide immediate and initial treatment without any prior appointment. Some symptoms that are not life-threatening but need immediate care are advised to go to urgent care clinics.
Yeast infections are one the diseases that can be handled through urgent care and do not need an emergency center because it doesn’t have any such threatening symptoms.
It is the safest option possible due to the delayed spreading nature of yeast, which cannot cause serious complications.
Some of the centers provide urgent care online or on-call. Like Great Doctor USA, we assist and allow patients to book appointments for yeast infection treatment online.
What are the Common Causes of Yeast Infection
Yeast infections, particularly those caused by Candida albicans, can occur due to various factors. Common causes include:
Antibiotic Use
Antibiotics can alter the body’s natural balance of microbes, including helpful bacteria that keep yeast levels under control. This disruption can cause an overgrowth of yeast, resulting in an infection.
Weakened Immune System
A compromised immune system, whether caused by diseases like HIV/AIDS or diabetes or as a side effect of immunosuppressive medications, can make individuals more susceptible.
Pregnancy
Changing your hormones during pregnancy might influence the vaginal environment. This increased susceptibility is particularly common during the second trimester and leads to urgent care yeast infection.
Uncontrolled Diabetes
High blood sugar levels create the ideal environment for yeast to grow. People with uncontrolled diabetes, particularly those with poor blood sugar control.
Hormonal Changes
Individuals may be predisposed if their hormone levels fluctuate during menstruation, menopause, or while using hormonal birth control.
Poor Personal Hygiene
Inadequate hygiene practices, such as wearing damp or sweaty clothing for extended periods, using scented feminine hygiene products, or douching, may upset the usual balance of germs in the vagina.
Sexual Activity
Sexual intercourse can disrupt the vaginal environment, potentially leading to yeast overgrowth. Yeast infections, on the other hand, are not classified as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) because they can occur in non-sexually active people.
Dietary Factors
A high-sugar, refined-carbohydrate diet can encourage yeast overgrowth because yeast feeds on sugar. Know about some foods to avoid for yeast infection.
Furthermore, excessive alcohol consumption can damage the immune system, contributing to the infection.
Tight Clothing
Wearing tight-fitting clothing, particularly synthetic materials that trap moisture and heat, can create an environment conducive to yeast growth, especially in areas prone to friction and moisture buildup.
Environmental Factors
Exposure to humid or moist environments, such as spending prolonged periods in wet clothing or swimming in chlorinated pools, can increase the risk of yeast infections.
Pointing Out the Symptoms for Urgent Care Yeast Infection
In Women
If you have a vaginal yeast infection, you will most likely feel an extremely itchy vagina. This is the most common one. Apart from that, you might also have:
- A feeling of burning, especially during sex or when you urinate.
- Your vulva gets swollen and red.
- Painful and sored vagina
- Rashes in Vagina.
- Thick, watery, or white odorless discharge.
In Men
Men require urgent care for yeast infection primarily due to a sexual encounter with a female partner who has a yeast infection. There will be an overgrowth of fungus (candida) on the skin. The symptoms include:
- Itchiness, redness, and burning sensation on the penis.
- A thick, white substance in the skin folds of the penis with moisture.
- Shiny, transparent skin over the penis.
Where To Go for Yeast Infection at First?
Urgent care centers are regularly available seven days a week and less busy than emergency departments, so you will likely be catered to quicker if you are having severe symptoms of yeast infections. These centers have qualified doctors and health care providers to give immediate care in this situation.
According to Definitive Healthcare data, there are around 10,200 operational urgent care clinics in the United States.
You may find it difficult to persist the symptoms as it can get you more trouble. So it is advisable to go to an urgent care center rather than an emergency ward because the severity of yeast infection’s symptoms are not much higher to risk the life.
Emergency wards or departments also cater to patients in critical condition who need urgent life-supporting care or treatment.
Can I Go to Urgent Care for a Yeast Infection?
Yes, you can opt for urgent care because, for signs of a yeast infection, it is recommended to see an urgent care provider. If you attend as soon as you discover symptoms, you will be able to get the infection treated fast.
Urgent care yeast infection facilities are ideal because they provide prompt and efficient care for serious but non-emergency medical illnesses. They can also prescribe more effective medications than those available over the counter, allowing you to feel well as soon as possible.
Urgent care facilities, like walk-in retail clinics, are handy, on-demand care outlets, but instead of treating low-acuity disorders like bronchitis and mild infections, they are equipped to handle more serious problems, including fractures, sprains, and wounds.
According to the report, urgent care clinics handle around 89 million patient visits every year, which represents more than 29% of all primary care visits in the United States and nearly 15% of all outpatient physician appointments.
Also Read: Qualities of Good Doctor
How Does Urgent Care Treat Yeast Infections?
Urgent care centers can treat yeast infections, especially those affecting the genital area (vaginal yeast infections). Here’s how they usually approach treatment.
Assessment and Diagnosis
The healthcare provider will begin by gathering medical information and asking about your symptoms. They may also conduct a physical exam to look for symptoms of a yeast infection, including redness, swelling, and abnormal discharge.
Confirmation of Disease
A healthcare provider may often diagnose a yeast infection based on symptoms and physical examination results. However, suppose there is any doubt or the infection is recurring. In that case, they may collect a sample of vaginal discharge for additional testing, such as a microscopic examination or a culture, to confirm the presence of yeast.
Prescription Medication
Antifungal medications are the most commonly used treatment for yeast infections. Urgent care professionals may give antifungal creams, ointments, suppositories, or oral drugs to help remove the infection. Fluconazole (Diflucan), clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin), miconazole (Monistat), and terconazole (Terazol) are among the most commonly prescribed antifungals.
Instructions for utilization
The healthcare professional will, in urgent care for yeast infection, explain how to utilize the prescribed drug, including the dosage, frequency, and length of treatment. They may also provide advice on adequate hygiene and lifestyle changes to avoid recurrence.
Subsequent follow-up
Depending on the severity of the infection and your response to treatment, your healthcare practitioner may suggest a follow-up session to check your progress and adjust therapy as needed.
Conclusion
Above are the mentioned queries related to the yeast infection and its urgent care. You must go for this type of infection and cure it accordingly. The health provider will hear all symptoms and give you a treatment after inspection.
FAQs
How can you determine whether your yeast infection is serious?
You can determine the severity of the yeast through these symptoms:
- Extensive redness, swelling, and itching can cause tears, sores, and cracks.
- The infection is caused by a less-known type of fungus.
- Your symptoms are not relieved after treatment with antifungal vaginal creams.
How long should I wait before seeing a doctor for a yeast infection?
It is not common for yeast infection to spread quickly and cause serious issues. You can also treat it through ove the counter medication. Meanwhile, it is good for you to opt for urgent. Because at urgent care centers, you can get immediate daycare without an appointment.
What is the worst that can happen from a yeast infection?
Candida, a form of yeast (fungus) causes an infection named as Invasive candidiasis. Different than other Candida infections in the mouth and throat or vaginal infections, invasive candidiasis is a dangerous infection that harms the blood, heart, brain, eyes, bones, and other organs. Candidemia, or Candida bloodstream infection, is a prevalent infection among hospitalized patients.
What is the quickest method for getting rid of a yeast infection?
Mild infections may resolve within a few days, although more severe infections may take longer, up to two or more weeks. If you feel you have a yeast infection, the fastest and most reliable approach to get rid of it is to visit urgent care. The doctors at urgent care departments will most likely prescribe fluconazole, an oral therapy that may take a week to clear the infection.