COVID-19

Internal Medicine, Primary Care & Urgent Care located in Palm Desert, CA

COVID-19 services offered in Palm Desert, CA

If you develop a fever, dry cough, or other symptoms of COVID-19, it’s necessary to get tested. A positive test result will confirm if you’re contagious and help you determine the next steps. At Palm Desert Urgent Care, internal medicine provider Manzoor Kazi, MD, diagnoses and treats COVID-19 to reduce its spread and prevent potentially severe outbreaks. Call the practice in Palm Desert, California, or book an appointment online.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), an upper respiratory infection characterized by coughing, body aches, and a loss of taste and smell.

COVID-19 is highly contagious and potentially life-threatening, so you must take preventive action. Dr. Kazi recommends getting immunized for COVID-19 and taking precautions to reduce the risk of exposure, like avoiding crowded areas and wearing a mask in poorly ventilated spaces.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The symptoms of COVID-19 include:

Shortness of breath
Cough that gets worse over time
Congestion or a runny nose
Fever
Chills
Fatigue
Sore throat
Loss of taste and smell
Headache
Pinkeye
Rash

You might also develop gastrointestinal symptoms, like vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea.

When should I get tested for COVID-19?

Make an appointment with Dr. Kazi for COVID-19 testing if you experience upper respiratory symptoms and they don’t improve with at-home treatments. That’s especially true if your symptoms get worse or come with a high fever.

How is COVID-19 diagnosed?

At Palm Desert Urgent Care, Dr. Kazi diagnoses COVID-19 with an in-office test.

After reviewing your medical records and asking about your symptoms, he collects a sample of saliva or mucus, sending it to a lab for analysis. If your test confirms that you have COVID-19, Dr. Kazi develops a custom treatment plan.

How is COVID-19 treated?

How COVID-19 is treated depends on several things, including your age, how severe your symptoms are, and if you have any underlying health problems. Usually, Dr. Kazi recommends conservative treatment — drinking plenty of fluids and staying home until you don’t have a fever.

If you have a more severe infection, Dr. Kazi could recommend:

Antiviral or retroviral medication
Steroids to reduce lung swelling and inflammation
Blood plasma transfusions
Hospitalization to monitor your heart and respiratory rate

You can reduce your risk of potentially severe side effects by getting immunized for COVID-19.

How can I reduce my risk of COVID-19?

Several things that you can do to reduce your risk of COVID-19 include:

Washing your hands several times a day with soap and warm water
Not touching your eyes, nose, mouth, or face with dirty hands
Staying home if you experience symptoms like a runny nose or a cough
Avoiding large crowds and gatherings

To learn more about the diagnoses and treatment of COVID-19, make an appointment at Palm Desert Urgent Care by calling the office or booking online today.

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