Back-to-School Illness Update: Maumelle, Sherwood, Bryant
With the new school year kicking off in Maumelle, Sherwood, and Bryant, our Healthcare Express Urgent Care clinics in the Little Rock area are starting to see a shift in what’s bringing patients through the door.
“We’re still seeing plenty of summertime cases like poison ivy and dehydration,” says Dr. Waheed, one of our local providers. “But now that kids are heading back to school, we’re also starting to see more respiratory illnesses like COVID, flu, colds, and RSV.”
As kids return to classrooms, sports practices, and after-school activities, illnesses spread more easily. This same seasonal trend showed up last August before peaking in the winter months, and we expect a similar pattern this year.
The COVID ‘Razorblade Throat’ Symptom
A standout feature of this late-summer COVID wave has been an extremely painful sore throat — patients often describe it as “swallowing razor blades.” Many people arrive certain they have strep throat, but testing reveals COVID instead. The rising strain, NB.1.8.1 (“Nimbus”), is highly contagious, though it hasn’t been linked to more severe hospitalizations. In our Maumelle, Sherwood, and Bryant urgent care clinics, we’ve seen this symptom profile in both adults and children, often alongside fever, fatigue, and congestion.
Why Testing & Treating Early Matters
Early testing can make all the difference.
-
Strep throat: Prompt antibiotic treatment speeds recovery and prevents complications.
-
COVID & flu: If medically appropriate, antivirals like Paxlovid or Tamiflu work best when started early, often reducing the severity and duration of illness.
-
RSV & colds: Supportive care can help patients — especially young children and older adults — recover faster and avoid complications.
The sooner you know what you’re dealing with, the sooner we can get you feeling better and keep illness from spreading to your family, coworkers, and classmates.
Need care today? Walk into our Little Rock area urgent care clinics in Maumelle, Sherwood, or Bryant — or book online — for same-day evaluation, testing, and treatment.
