Symptom guide · Pioneer Physicians
Rapid Flu Tests and Flu Treatment in Bolingbrook, IL
You can walk in for flu treatment in Bolingbrook, IL, at Pioneer Physicians Urgent Care, which is open every day from 8 AM to 8 PM and runs rapid flu tests for adults and children during the visit. CDC says antivirals work best when started within two days of the first symptoms, so come early. For trouble breathing, chest pain or confusion, call 911 instead.
- Open 7 days, 8 AM to 8 PM
- Walk-ins welcome
- X-ray and rapid tests on site
- Kids and adults
- Medicare and Medicaid plans accepted
Flu symptoms and how they differ from a cold
Flu usually comes on suddenly, while a cold tends to start gradually. These are the flu symptoms the CDC lists:
- Fever, or feeling feverish with chills (not everyone with flu gets a fever)
- Cough and sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Tiredness (fatigue)
- Vomiting and diarrhea, which are more common in children than adults
Cold, flu or COVID
CDC’s comparison shows fever, body aches and headache are rare or slight with a cold but common with flu. COVID-19 can look a lot like flu, so when the cause is unclear we can run rapid flu and COVID tests at the same visit. See our pages on colds and coughs and COVID-19.
How flu spreads and how long you are contagious
Flu spreads mainly through droplets from a sick person’s cough, sneeze or even normal talking, and less often from touching a surface with the virus on it and then your face. Symptoms usually start about two days after you catch it, and the range is one to four days, according to CDC.
You can pass flu to others starting about a day before you feel sick and for up to five to seven days after. People are most contagious in the first three days. Young children and people with weakened immune systems may stay contagious longer.
Cold or flu? How the symptoms compare
| Topic | Common cold | Flu |
|---|---|---|
| How it starts | Gradually | Suddenly |
| Fever | Rare | Common, often lasting 3 to 4 days |
| Body aches | Slight | Common and often severe |
| Chills | Uncommon | Fairly common |
| Tiredness and weakness | Sometimes | Usual |
| Cough and chest discomfort | Mild to moderate, hacking cough | Common, can be severe |
| Sneezing, stuffy nose, sore throat | Common | Sometimes |
| Headache | Rare | Common |
How to care for the flu at home
Most people with flu recover at home with rest, fluids and time. These steps help:
- Rest, and drink plenty of fluids.
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can bring down a fever and ease aches.
- Never give aspirin to a child or teen who has flu symptoms. It is linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
- Stay home while you are sick, and keep away from other people, including anyone in your home who is not sick.
Why antibiotics will not help
Flu is caused by a virus, and antibiotics only kill bacteria, so they do nothing for the flu itself. MedlinePlus lists ear infections, sinus infections and pneumonia among possible flu complications, so tell the provider about ear pain, pressure in your face or a cough that keeps getting worse.
Should I take an antiviral for the flu?
An antiviral makes the most sense if you are at higher risk of flu complications or very sick, and it works best when started within two days of your first symptoms. These are prescription medicines. According to CDC’s flu treatment guidance, they can ease symptoms, shorten the illness by about a day and help reduce some complications.
Most people with flu have mild illness and do not need an antiviral, CDC says. It does recommend prompt antiviral treatment for suspected flu in the higher-risk groups below, so if one fits you, come in on the first or second day instead of waiting it out.
- Adults 65 and older
- Children younger than 5, with the highest risk under age 2
- People who are pregnant, or within two weeks after a pregnancy ends
- People with asthma or other lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, or kidney or liver disease
- People with a weakened immune system, a neurologic condition, sickle cell disease, a past stroke, or a BMI of 40 or higher
- Nursing home and long-term care residents
Flu symptoms starting? Come in early
Antivirals help most in the first two days of flu, so walk in or save your spot online today.
When the flu needs care today
Get checked today if flu symptoms come with a higher-risk condition or seem to be turning into something more, such as:
- Flu symptoms in the first two days for anyone in a higher-risk group
- Symptoms that are severe or keep getting worse
- Ear pain, pressure in the face and head, or a cough and fever that will not go away, which the AAP names as possible complications
- A child whose flu symptoms are not improving
What happens at a visit for flu treatment in Bolingbrook
A provider asks when your symptoms began and about your health conditions and medicines, then examines you and decides which tests will help. The rapid flu test uses a nose or throat swab, and it is processed here, so the result is part of the same visit. Rapid strep and COVID tests are on site too, for when a sore throat or cough could have more than one cause. Our lab testing page explains each test.
A rapid test is useful but not perfect. The CDC page on flu tests says a negative rapid flu test does not always mean you do not have flu, and a provider may diagnose flu from your symptoms and exam alone.
When your breathing or the exam points toward possible pneumonia, a chest X-ray can be taken here on any day we are open. Before you go, the provider covers home care, whether an antiviral fits your situation, and what changes would mean coming back or calling 911.
Flu care for children at our clinic
Children of every age, infants through teens, can be seen for flu symptoms at our pediatric urgent care. In kids, flu often starts with a sudden fever, usually above 100.4°F, and some children also vomit or have loose stools.
The AAP’s flu guide for parents says to give acetaminophen or ibuprofen only in the dose your pediatrician recommends for your child’s age and weight. Ibuprofen is for babies 6 months and older and should not be given to a child who is dehydrated or keeps vomiting. If your child is under 5 or has asthma, diabetes or a heart condition, the AAP advises calling your pediatrician within 24 hours of the first flu symptom to ask about antiviral medicine.
Childhood vaccinations are not given at our clinic, so plan your child’s yearly flu vaccine with their regular doctor, the Will County Health Department or the DuPage County Health Department.
How to lower your risk of getting the flu
A yearly flu vaccine is the best way to prevent flu, and CDC recommends one for everyone 6 months and older. Protection takes about two weeks to build, the AAP notes. Adults can get a walk-in flu shot at our clinic.
Cover coughs and sneezes, wash your hands often, and stay home while you are sick. Babies under 6 months are too young for their own flu vaccine, so vaccinated family members and caregivers help protect them.
The Pioneer walk-in visit
How a visit works
- Step 1Walk in or save your spot
No appointment needed. You can also save your spot online before you leave home.
- Step 2Check in
Bring a photo ID, your insurance card and a list of the medicines you take.
- Step 3See a provider
Get examined, with X-ray and rapid tests on site when you need them.
- Step 4Leave with a plan
You go home with a care plan and clear next steps.
Why families in Bolingbrook choose Pioneer
Walk-in care that fits real life
Open 7 days a week
8 AM to 8 PM, weekends included, so a Saturday sore throat does not have to wait until Monday.
X-ray and tests on site
X-ray every day we are open, plus rapid strep, flu and COVID tests, urinalysis and EKG.
Care for kids and adults
From infants through the teen years, and adults of every age, in one clinic.
Insurance and self-pay
Aetna, BCBS of Illinois, Cigna, Humana, Medicare, Illinois Medicaid plans and UnitedHealthcare. Call to confirm your plan.
Questions and answers
Questions we hear often
Still not sure? Call (630) 914-5373 and we will help you decide.
Where can I get flu treatment near me?
Pioneer Physicians Urgent Care, at 148 S Bolingbrook Dr, sees flu patients on a walk-in basis every day. We’re open 8 AM to 8 PM, no appointment is needed, and you can also save your spot online. If it is already past 8 PM, the booking page shows next-day times. Romeoville is about a 10-minute drive away and Woodridge about 11. For emergency warning signs, call 911.
Is flu immediate care the same as a flu urgent care clinic?
Yes. Locally, people use immediate care, urgent care and walk-in clinic for the same thing: a same-day visit with no appointment for an illness that is not an emergency. Most flu visits fit that description, and we test for flu and treat it here in adults and children. Our page on walk-in immediate care in Bolingbrook explains more.
How long does a rapid flu test take?
CDC says rapid flu tests give results in about 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the type of test. Because we run the test here, you get the result during your visit. If it comes back negative but your symptoms point to flu, the provider may still diagnose it, since rapid tests can miss some infections.
Is it too late for a flu antiviral after 48 hours?
Not always. CDC says antivirals work best when started within two days of the first symptoms, but starting later can still help people at higher risk of complications or those who are very sick. If you are otherwise healthy and already improving, you may not need one. The provider can help you weigh it at the visit.
When can I go back to work or school after the flu?
Once 24 hours have passed with your symptoms improving overall and no fever, without the help of fever-reducing medicine, CDC says you can return to normal activities. Be extra careful around others for five more days, with steps like wearing a mask, washing your hands or keeping your distance, because you may still spread the virus after you feel better.
How long does the flu last?
Most people recover in a few days to less than two weeks, according to CDC. Fever usually lasts 3 to 4 days, while a cough and tiredness can hang on longer. If a fever or cough gets better and then comes back or gets worse, that is an emergency warning sign: call 911 or go to the ER.
Does insurance cover a flu visit?
We accept Medicare, Illinois Medicaid plans (HFS, Meridian, CountyCare, Molina and YouthCare), Aetna, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Please call (630) 914-5373 before you come to confirm your specific plan. Without insurance, you can pay for the visit and any tests yourself. Call for current self-pay pricing.
Sources for this page
- Signs and Symptoms of Flu. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Treatment of Flu. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- People at Increased Risk for Flu Complications. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- How Flu Spreads. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Diagnosis for Flu. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Flu. MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- The Flu: What Parents Need to Know. American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org.