What Is Acute Illness Care?
Acute illnesses are conditions that come on suddenly and — thankfully — usually resolve within a short period (days to weeks). They're disruptive, annoying, and sometimes a little scary, especially when symptoms escalate quickly.
Some common acute Diseases we treat include:
- Flu
- Colds
- Sinus infections
- Ear infections
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infections
- Bacterial infections
- Viral infections
- Sprains & minor injuries
If you're experiencing high fever, persistent cough, severe sinus pressure, painful urination, unusual symptoms, or just not feeling like yourself, it's time to seek medical attention.
Acute Diseases Care in Sugar Land: What You Can Expect
Your time matters. Your health matters even more. That's why our clinic is built around convenience, comfort, and fast access to a dedicated medical team.
Here's how we deliver acute care that stands out in Houston and Sugar Land:
✔ Same-Day Appointments
We understand that acute illnesses don't care about your schedule — so we offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
(You can even schedule an appointment online — yes, it's that easy.)
✔ A Team That Actually Listens
We take the time to review your medical history, discuss your symptoms, and understand what's really going on.
No rush. No judgment. Just personalized care.
✔ Quick, Accurate Diagnosis
Our clinicians assess your symptoms, run tests when needed, and rule out other conditions so you get the right treatment the first time.
✔ Treatment Designed for Fast Recovery
Whether it's antibiotics for bacterial infections, symptom relief for sinus pressure, or care for minor injuries, we help you recover without the hassle.
✔ When It's Not an ER-Level Emergency
Most acute illnesses don't require a hospital or emergency room visit.
We handle everything from sinus infections to bronchitis right here in our Sugar Land office.
Common Acute Diseases We Treat
Fast, Effective Care for Sudden Illness
Respiratory Infections:
When you can't breathe well, every hour feels long. We treat respiratory conditions, including:
- Flu (influenza) with fever, body aches, and severe fatigue
- Common colds that won't quit
- Sinus infections causing facial pain and congestion
- Bronchitis with persistent cough and chest discomfort
- Pneumonia requiring antibiotics and close monitoring
Ear, Nose, and Throat Problems:
Ear infections hurt. Strep throat makes swallowing miserable. We diagnose and treat these acute illnesses quickly so you can start feeling better today. Our team performs rapid strep tests and can assess whether you have bacterial infections requiring antibiotics or viral infections that need supportive care.
Urinary Tract Infections:
UTIs are painful and urgent. We provide prompt diagnosis and treatment to relieve symptoms and prevent complications. Timely care matters—untreated urinary tract infections can spread to the kidneys.
Gastrointestinal Issues:
Stomach flu, food poisoning, severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea—these illnesses disrupt your life. We assess your symptoms, rule out serious complications, provide medication to manage symptoms, and give you clear instructions for recovery at home.
Skin Infections:
Cellulitis, abscesses, infected wounds, and other skin infections need medical attention. We examine the infection, prescribe appropriate antibiotics, and monitor healing to prevent the infection from spreading.
Minor Injuries:
Sprains, minor cuts needing stitches, simple fractures, and minor burns—we handle urgent injuries that don't require an emergency room visit but need more than home care.
Other Acute Conditions:
We also treat conjunctivitis (pink eye), allergic reactions, asthma exacerbations, migraines, back pain from acute injury, and many other conditions that come on suddenly.
📞 Feeling sick? Don't wait. Call (713) 636-2621 for a same-day appointment.
When to Seek Medical Attention for Acute Illness
Know When You Need a Doctor
Some illnesses you can manage at home. Others need professional care. Here's when to schedule an appointment with us:
See Us for Acute Care When:
- Fever over 101°F lasting more than 2-3 days
- Severe sore throat, especially with white patches
- Persistent cough producing colored mucus
- Difficulty breathing or wheezing
- Ear pain or drainage from the ears
- Painful urination or blood in urine
- Vomiting or diarrhea causing dehydration
- Symptoms are getting worse instead of better
- You're unsure whether you need treatment
Go to the Emergency Room When:
- Chest pain or pressure
- Difficulty breathing or severe shortness of breath
- High fever with stiff neck or severe headache
- Sudden severe abdominal pain
- Signs of severe dehydration (dizziness, confusion, very dark urine)
- Injuries requiring immediate care
- Any life-threatening emergency
Not sure which you need? Call our office. We'll help you decide if you should come in, go to the emergency room, or manage care at home. Your well-being matters, and we want you to receive timely care at the right facility.
How We Diagnose and Treat Acute Illnesses
Your Appointment From Start to Recovery
Same Day Appointments Available:
When you're sick, waiting days for an appointment feels impossible. We reserve appointment slots specifically for acute illness. Call us in the morning, and we'll work you in that day. You can also book an appointment online if you prefer.
Thorough Assessment:
When you arrive, we'll assess your symptoms thoroughly. We ask about:
- When symptoms started and how they've progressed
- Current symptoms and their severity
- Your medical history and current medications
- Recent exposures to illness
- What have you tried at home
This helps us understand what's causing your illness and how to treat it effectively.
Accurate Diagnosis:
We perform appropriate testing to diagnose your condition:
- Rapid strep tests for throat infections
- Flu tests during flu season
- Urinalysis for urinary tract infections
- Chest x-rays if we're concerned about pneumonia
- Other testing as needed for an accurate diagnosis
Getting the diagnosis right means choosing the right treatment. We don't just guess—we test.
Effective Treatment:
Once we know what's wrong, we create a treatment plan:
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections (not viral ones, where they don't help)
- Prescription medications to manage symptoms
- Clear instructions for home care
- Guidance on what to watch for
- Follow-up plan if you're not improving
Prescriptions Sent Directly:
We send prescriptions to your pharmacy electronically. You can pick them up on your way home and start treatment immediately.
Follow-Up Care:
We schedule follow-up if needed to ensure you're recovering properly. For most acute diseases, you'll feel better within a few days to weeks. If not, we reassess and adjust your treatment.
💻 Don't suffer through illness. Schedule now and start feeling better.
Acute Diseases vs. Chronic Disease Management
Understanding Different Types of Medical Care
Acute Illnesses:
These come on suddenly, lasting days to weeks, and resolve with treatment or on their own. Examples: flu, sinus infection, strep throat, UTI, stomach virus. These are the illnesses we treat with same-day acute care appointments.
Chronic Disease:
These are ongoing conditions you manage long-term—diabetes, hypertension, asthma, COPD. While we also provide chronic disease management, it's different from treating acute illness. Chronic conditions require regular monitoring and ongoing medication management.
When Acute and Chronic Overlap:
If you have a chronic disease and develop an acute illness, both need attention. For example, flu hits harder if you have diabetes. A cold can trigger asthma attacks. We treat your acute illness while considering how your chronic disease affects your care and recovery.
How to Know If You Need Acute Care or the ER
Here's a quick guide:
| Situation | Acute Care Clinic | Emergency Room |
|---|---|---|
| Sinus infection | ✔ | |
| Fever | ✔ | |
| Cough/cold symptoms | ✔ | |
| Bronchitis | ✔ | |
| UTI | ✔ | |
| Sprains/minor injuries | ✔ | |
| High fever + difficulty breathing | ✔ | |
| Chest pain | ✔ | |
| Severe dehydration | ✔ | |
| Major injuries | ✔ | |
| Life-threatening symptoms | ✔ |
Why Choose Core Primary Care for Acute Illness Care Sugar Land
Your Medical Home When You're Sick
Same-Day Availability:
We make room in our schedule for sick patients who need immediate care. You don't wait days while suffering. Call early for best same-day availability.
Experienced Medical Team:
Our board-certified physicians have been treating acute diseases in Sugar Land, tx, and Houston since 1976. We've seen thousands of cases of flu, infections, bronchitis, and other common illnesses. Experience matters when diagnosing and treating quickly.
We Know Your Medical History:
Because we're your primary care provider, we know your medical conditions, medications, allergies, and health history. This knowledge helps us treat you safely and effectively. We don't have to start from scratch like urgent care centers, where you see a different person every visit.
Convenient Sugar Land Location:
Our office at 20403 University Blvd is easy to reach from throughout Sugar Land, Houston, Katy, and Needville. Plenty of parking, accessible location, quick in and out when you're feeling terrible.
Treat the Whole Person:
We don't just treat your symptoms in isolation. We consider your overall health, other medications you're taking, and how acute illness affects your chronic conditions. This approach leads to better outcomes and fewer complications.
Continuity of Care:
After treating your acute illness, we remain your medical home for ongoing care. If you develop complications or need follow-up, you're seeing the same medical team—not starting over with strangers.
High Quality Care:
We maintain high standards for diagnosis and treatment. Proper testing, appropriate prescribing of antibiotics only when needed, clear patient education, and thorough follow-up.
Preventing Common Acute Illnesses
Stay Healthier Year-Round
While we're here, when you get sick, preventing illness in the first place is better. Here's how:
Get Vaccinated:
Flu shots reduce your risk of influenza. We offer vaccinations during flu season. Other vaccines prevent pneumonia, shingles, and other illnesses.
Practice Good Hygiene:
Wash your hands frequently, especially during cold and flu season. Avoid touching your face. Stay home when you're sick to avoid spreading illness to others.
Manage Chronic Conditions:
Well-controlled diabetes, asthma, and other chronic diseases make you less vulnerable to severe acute illness and complications.
Rest and Nutrition:
Adequate sleep and healthy eating support your immune system. When you're run down, you're more susceptible to catching whatever virus is going around.
Seek Early Treatment:
Don't ignore the following symptoms: persistent fever, worsening cough, severe pain, or other concerning signs. Early treatment often prevents simple infections from becoming serious complications.
What Patients Ask About Acute Disease Care
Common Questions and Answers
Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?
We operate by appointment to minimize your wait time. Call us for same-day scheduling, or book an appointment online. We work with sick patients quickly.
Should I go to urgent care or see you?
If you're our established patient, seeing us is usually better. We know your medical history and can coordinate with your other care. We're often faster than urgent care, too. However, if we're closed and you need care immediately, urgent care is a good option.
Will you prescribe antibiotics?
Only when appropriate. Many acute illnesses are viral and don't respond to antibiotics. We test to determine if you have bacterial infections that need antibiotics or viral infections that require supportive care. Overusing antibiotics creates resistance, so we prescribe thoughtfully.
How long until I feel better?
This varies by illness. Colds typically improve in 7-10 days. Flu can take 1-2 weeks. Bacterial infections often improve within 48-72 hours of starting antibiotics. We give you realistic expectations during your visit.
What if I'm not getting better?
Call us. Sometimes acute disease takes longer to recover from, or you may have developed complications. We'll schedule a follow-up appointment to reassess and adjust treatment.
Do you treat children?
We treat adults. For pediatric acute illness, you'll need a pediatrician who specializes in treating children.
What should I do while waiting for my appointment?
Rest, stay hydrated, take over-the-counter medication for fever and pain if appropriate, and monitor your symptoms. If anything becomes severe or concerning before your appointment, call us or seek emergency care.
Insurance and Payment for Acute Care Visits
Affordable Access to Treatment
Insurance Accepted:
We accept most major insurance plans serving Sugar Land and the Houston area. Acute care visits are typically covered as regular office visits—you'll pay your standard copay or meet your deductible.
Self-Pay Options:
Don't have insurance? We offer transparent pricing for acute illness visits. The cost includes the exam, any in-office testing we perform, and the physician's time.
Prescription Costs:
Medication costs vary based on your insurance and which pharmacy you use. We can often prescribe generic antibiotics and other medications that cost less while working just as well.
No Surprise Bills:
We tell you upfront what your visit will cost. We verify insurance before you arrive and let you know your expected out-of-pocket expense.
Worth the Investment:
Getting proper treatment prevents complications, helps you recover faster, and gets you back to work and life sooner. Trying to tough it out often leads to worse illness and more medical costs later.