September in Mississippi means two things: the first day of school and the first round of sniffles. It’s been a long summer apart, but the kids are pressed shoulder to shoulder again — secrets and stories won’t be the only things they spread.

Even the best hand-washing habits are seldom enough to stop back-to-school illnesses from taking hold, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

And if coughs and colds were all, that would be enough to keep our clinic busy. But the first month back also brings a fresh wave of playground mishaps, sports injuries and other surprises that can send a child into urgent care.

So here are the Top 5 Reasons Kids Visit Urgent Care in September and how you can help your child get through the season.

1. Respiratory Infections

In a crowded classroom, contagious illnesses bounce fast from one developing immune system to the next. And it’s back-to-school season, so we can expect to see a lot of:

Common colds: runny nose, mild cough or sore throat.
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus): congestion, wheezing or rapid breathing, especially in infants and preschoolers, per the CDC.
Flu: sudden fever, chills, body aches and fatigue.

Some of these clear up with rest and fluids. Bring your child into urgent care if you notice:

Difficulty breathing or wheezing.
Dry lips, excessive thirst or other signs of dehydration
High fevers that won’t break

We can test for flu or strep throat to see what steps are needed. Nebulizers or inhalers can help if your child is having rough breathing.

2. Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Pink, itchy and passing easily from one child to the next — pink eye is a regular at our urgent care clinic in September. Look for:

Bloodshot eyes or swelling
Yellow-green discharge, either oozing out or crusting around the eyelashes.
Frequent rubbing or scratching at the eyes. Pink eye is bothersome, making it hard for kids to leave alone.

When caught early, pink eye is quite manageable. The CDC notes that viral infections often clear on their own, while bacterial infections usually need antibiotic drops. Urgent care can tell the difference, start treatment early, and keep your child from missing any more school.

3. Strep Throat

For kids, strep throat is an assault on the lunchbox. It comes on fast and makes swallowing miserable by painfully inflaming the back of the throat. Parents should watch for:

Fever over 101°F
Pain when swallowing anything
Swollen glands around the neck
Inflamed tonsils, sometimes white patches
Headache and stomach aches

Urgent care can run a rapid strep test in just a few minutes. The CDC advises that most kids start feeling better within 24 to 48 hours of their first antibiotics dose — we’ll monitor their progress to make sure.

4. Schoolyard Injuries

Kids call it fun. We call it trips, slips, falls, and collisions — all in a September day’s work at urgent care, where we’re never quite surprised to see:

Sprains, twisted ankles and other recess-driven injuries
Bruises and scraped knees from those falls
Minor sprains or fractures in fingers, wrists or ankles
Bumps to the head, including minor concussions

We can conduct on-site X-rays for sprains, strains, and fractures, apply splints, bandages, or wraps, and make sure we know what’s happening beneath the surface.

5. Fall Allergies & Asthma Flare-Ups

Ragweed pollen season runs from August to October in Starkville, according to the Allergy & Asthma Network. This and other forms of seasonal pollen are major triggers for allergy and asthma, often causing:

Sneezing or runny noses
Burning, watery eyes
Coughing fits after being outdoors

Children with asthma benefit from having an extra inhaler ready at their school nurse’s office. Come to urgent care if you notice any:

Shortness of breath, especially while talking
Wheezing that the inhaler can’t help
Breathing that looks more like a workout

We can monitor your child’s oxygen, provide breathing treatments, and keep them under observation until they’re comfortable.

Back-to-School Support, Without the Wait

From fevers to fractures and more, State Urgent Care is here to help your family get through the school year in stride. Our experienced providers treat seasonal illnesses and injuries with prompt, personalized care.

Located right here in Starkville, we’re open 7 days a week with no appointment necessary. Just walk in when your child needs care — we’ll do the rest.