We’re proud to share an exciting milestone with our community.

Night Watch Pediatric & Adult Urgent Care in Stone Ridge has been recognized by BusinessRate as a Top Urgent Care Center in Loudoun County for 2026.

According to the recognition letter, this distinction is based on Google reviews and reflects verified customer feedback and publicly available review data.

For our team, that makes this recognition particularly meaningful because it reflects the voices and experiences of the people we serve.

A Recognition Made Possible by Our Patients

Every day, families trust Night Watch during moments they didn’t necessarily plan for.

It might be a child who develops a fever after their regular doctor’s office has closed, an unexpected sports injury, or an adult who needs care without waiting days for an appointment.

Whatever brings someone through our doors, our goal is to make sure they feel heard, supported, and cared for.

Every review and piece of feedback helps us continue working toward that goal.

Caring for Children and Adults in Stone Ridge

Our Stone Ridge location provides urgent care for both children and adults, giving families in Aldie, Stone Ridge, and surrounding Loudoun County communities another option for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

With evening and weekend availability, we’re here for many of those health concerns that don’t conveniently happen during regular office hours.

Thank You, Loudoun County 💙

Recognition is always exciting, but this one belongs just as much to our community as it does to our team.

To every patient and family who has visited Night Watch, shared feedback, left a Google review, or recommended us to someone else, thank you for your trust.

And to our Stone Ridge team, thank you for the compassion, professionalism, and dedication you bring to our patients every day.

We’re grateful to be recognized as a Top Urgent Care Center in Loudoun County for 2026, and we look forward to continuing to serve our community for years to come.

runny nose can all show up this fall. Here’s how to know what may be causing your child’s symptoms and how to prepare for the season ahead.

Fall brings cooler weather, school routines, outdoor activities, and unfortunately, plenty of sniffles.

For parents, one of the hardest parts is figuring out what those symptoms actually mean.

Is it seasonal allergies? A common cold? Flu? Something your child picked up at school?

While symptoms can overlap, there are a few clues that can help you decide what to do next.

Why Do Allergies Get Worse in the Fall?

Spring gets most of the attention when it comes to allergies, but fall can be difficult for children with seasonal allergies too.

Ragweed pollen is one of the major fall allergy triggers. Mold spores can also increase around damp leaves, soil, and other outdoor areas.

Children with fall allergies may experience:

→ Frequent sneezing
→ Clear or runny nose
→ Nasal congestion
→ Itchy or watery eyes
→ Itchy nose or throat
→ Postnasal drip
→ Mild coughing, especially from drainage

One useful clue is itchiness. An itchy nose, eyes, or throat is much more characteristic of allergies than many viral illnesses.

Allergy symptoms may also persist or return when your child is exposed to their triggers.

Allergies vs. a Cold: What Should Parents Look For?

A runny nose alone doesn’t always give you the answer.

With seasonal allergies, children commonly have clear nasal drainage, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and symptoms that follow exposure to allergens. Allergies themselves do not cause fever and aren’t contagious.

A viral respiratory infection may include congestion and coughing too, but your child may also develop fever, sore throat, fatigue, decreased appetite, or symptoms that change over several days.

And once school is back in session, children have plenty of opportunities to encounter respiratory viruses.

If you’re unsure which one you’re dealing with, especially when symptoms are worsening rather than improving, an evaluation can help.

What About the Flu?

Flu can look very different from a typical case of seasonal allergies.

Children with influenza may develop symptoms such as:

→ Fever or chills
→ Cough
→ Sore throat
→ Runny or stuffy nose
→ Headache or body aches
→ Significant tiredness
→ Vomiting or diarrhea, which can occur more commonly in children than adults

Unlike seasonal allergies, flu is caused by a virus and can spread from person to person.

That makes fall a good time to think beyond treating today’s sniffles and start preparing your family for the respiratory illness season ahead.

Fall Is a Good Time to Check Your Child’s Vaccines

Fall also means the start of another flu season, making this a good time to check whether your family is up to date on recommended vaccinations.

The CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for most people ages 6 months and older. Staying current on recommended vaccines can help protect your family as respiratory illnesses begin circulating more frequently during the fall and winter months.

Night Watch Urgent Care offers routine and seasonal vaccinations, making it easier to take care of this important fall health task.

Vaccine availability may vary, so call your nearest Night Watch location to confirm which vaccines are currently available before your visit.

Helping Your Child Through Fall Allergy Season

If allergies are the problem, reducing exposure can sometimes make the season more comfortable.

Try having children wash their hands and face after spending time outside, change clothes after heavy outdoor exposure, keep windows closed when pollen counts are high, and avoid letting piles of damp leaves accumulate around areas where children play.

Your child’s healthcare provider can also help you determine whether an age-appropriate allergy treatment may be useful.

When Should Your Child Be Seen?

Not every sniffle needs an urgent care visit. But it may be time for an evaluation if you’re unsure whether symptoms are allergies or an illness, symptoms continue to worsen, your child develops a persistent or high fever, they’re having difficulty eating or drinking, or they’re simply not acting like themselves.

Seek emergency care for significant difficulty breathing, blue or gray lips or skin, severe dehydration, or if your child is extremely difficult to wake.

We’re Here for the Unexpected Fall Sick Days

Whether it’s a cough that appeared overnight, a fever after school, worsening allergy symptoms, or you’re simply unsure what’s making your child sick, Night Watch Urgent Care is here to help.

Save this before misinformation does the damage. Sexual health misinformation has a way of sticking around.

Even in 2026, myths about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), testing, symptoms, and transmission can influence whether someone gets screened, seeks treatment, or unknowingly exposes a partner.

The problem is that STIs do not always behave the way people expect. Many infections can cause few or no symptoms, and you cannot determine someone’s STI status based on how healthy they look or feel.

Here are five sexual health myths worth leaving behind.

Myth #1: “I’d know if I had an STI.”

Fact: You may have no symptoms at all.

This is one of the most important misconceptions about sexual health.

Many STIs can be asymptomatic, meaning an infection may be present without obvious symptoms. Chlamydia and gonorrhea, for example, frequently occur without noticeable symptoms.

Even when symptoms do occur, they may be mild enough to overlook or mistake for something else.

That means waiting for burning, discharge, sores, pain, or another obvious symptom is not a reliable way to know your status.

The takeaway: If you have a reason to be tested, feeling completely fine should not stop you from getting screened.

Myth #2: “You can catch an STI from a public toilet seat.”

Fact: Toilet seats are not a typical route of STI transmission.

This myth has been around for generations.

STIs are primarily transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Some infections can also spread through close skin-to-skin sexual contact or exposure to infected blood.

Sitting on a public toilet seat is not considered a realistic route of transmission for common STIs.

So while good hygiene in public bathrooms is always reasonable, the toilet seat is not where your attention should be focused when thinking about STI prevention.

The takeaway: Understanding how STIs actually spread helps you focus on the risks that matter.

Myth #3: “If my partner looks healthy, they probably don’t have an STI.”

Fact: You cannot tell someone’s STI status by looking at them.

No rash. No sores. No discharge. No complaints.

None of these proves that someone is STI-free.

Because many infections can remain asymptomatic, someone can feel healthy, look healthy, and still have an infection.

This is also why relying only on a partner to tell you whether they “feel fine” is not the same as knowing their testing status.

The takeaway: Testing gives you information that appearances cannot.

Myth #4: “If I’m in a relationship, I don’t need STI testing.”

Fact: Your need for screening depends on your individual circumstances and risk factors, not simply your relationship status.

Being in a relationship does not automatically answer questions about sexual health.

A new relationship can actually be an important time for partners to discuss previous testing, sexual history, protection, and whether screening makes sense.

Testing may also be appropriate after a new sexual partner, possible exposure, unprotected sex, or when recommended as part of routine preventive care.

The takeaway: STI testing is healthcare. It does not need to be treated as an accusation or a sign of distrust.

Myth #5: “If I don’t have symptoms, I can just wait.”

Fact: Delaying testing can allow some untreated infections to cause complications or be transmitted to others.

Some untreated STIs can eventually contribute to complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease and fertility problems. An infection can also be passed to another person even when symptoms are absent.

Knowing your status allows you and your healthcare provider to determine whether treatment, additional testing, or follow-up is needed.

Testing before symptoms appear can be exactly the point.

Sexual Health Should Be Based on Facts, Not Assumptions

There should be nothing embarrassing about wanting to know your STI status.

You do not need to wait until you have symptoms. You do not need to “look sick.” And you do not need to wait until you are certain something is wrong.

Testing can simply be part of taking care of your health.

At Night Watch Urgent Care – Stone Ridge, we offer confidential STI/STD testing for adults, including rapid testing options for certain infections.

Whether you have symptoms, a recent exposure, a new partner, or simply want clarity about your status, our team can help determine which tests are appropriate for you.

Night Watch Urgent Care – Stone Ridge / Aldie
42010 Village Center Plaza, Suite 100
Aldie, VA
(703) 775-4999

Walk-ins are welcome, or you can book a visit online.

Feeling fine is reassuring. Knowing your status gives you answers.

6 Things Night Watch Urgent Care Does Differently

When your child gets sick or injured, one of the hardest decisions parents face is where to go. Should you wait for your pediatrician? Head to the emergency room? Or look for an urgent care that actually understands pediatric needs?

At Night Watch Urgent Care, we’ve built our clinics around what families truly need: convenience, clarity, and care that fits real life.

Here are six ways we do things differently.

1. Pediatric Urgent Care Designed for Real Life

We are not just an urgent care clinic — we are a pediatric-focused environment designed to make children feel comfortable and supported.

From common illnesses like fevers and coughs to injuries that happen during play or sports, our approach centers on both medical care and the overall experience for families.

2. Open Late and on Weekends

Illness doesn’t follow office hours, and neither do we.

⏰ Hours:
Monday–Friday: 10 AM – 10 PM
Saturday–Sunday: 10 AM – 7 PM

Whether symptoms start after school or worsen at night, families have access to care when they actually need it.

3. We Treat More Than You Might Expect

Many parents are surprised by the range of conditions we manage.

We regularly treat:

• Flu symptoms and respiratory illnesses
• Ear infections and sore throats
• Minor fractures, sprains, and sports injuries
• Cuts that require stitches
• Rashes and allergic reactions
• Dehydration and stomach illnesses

This means fewer referrals and fewer stops for care.

4. On-Site X-Rays and Testing

One of the biggest advantages of visiting Night Watch Urgent Care is access to immediate diagnostics.

With on-site X-rays and testing, we can:

• Confirm fractures
• Evaluate injuries
• Diagnose infections
• Provide same-visit treatment plans

Families don’t have to wait days for answers or travel to multiple locations.

5. Helping Families Avoid Unnecessary ER Visits

Emergency rooms are essential for serious, life-threatening conditions — but many situations fall into a gray area.

When it’s urgent but not an emergency, urgent care is often the right choice.

At Night Watch, we provide timely evaluation and treatment so families can avoid long ER wait times and higher costs when appropriate.

6. Care for Both Kids and Adults at Stone Ridge

📍 Stone Ridge Location

In addition to pediatric care, this location also treats adults.

This makes it easier for families to receive care together, especially when multiple members are feeling unwell or need evaluation at the same time.

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Convenient Care Across Northern Virginia

Night Watch Urgent Care serves families across:

• Manassas
• Winchester
• Aldie / Stone Ridge

With extended hours, comprehensive services, and a family-centered approach, we are here when care can’t wait.

When to Visit Night Watch Urgent Care

If your child is sick, injured, or something simply doesn’t feel right, it’s always okay to seek care.

Having access to a trusted urgent care can make these moments less stressful and more manageable.

We are open late and available on weekends to support your family’s needs.

Care should be accessible, efficient, and built around real life — and that’s exactly what we aim to provide.

When your child is sick or hurt, the best place to go depends on two things: how severe the symptoms are and how fast your child needs to be evaluated. If you’re seeing emergency warning signs (trouble breathing, severe allergic reaction, seizure, or a child who is hard to wake), skip the debate and go straight to the ER or call your local emergency number.

Below is a practical, parent-friendly guide to help you decide.

Choose the ER if your child may be in danger right now or could worsen quickly.

Choose Urgent Care if your child needs same-day evaluation for a non-life-threatening problem (especially when your pediatrician is closed or can’t see you soon).

Choose the Pediatrician for routine care, ongoing concerns, and problems that can safely wait for an office visit.

If you’re unsure, many urgent care clinics also offer telemedicine or nurse/triage guidance—but if your gut says “this is an emergency,” trust that and go to the ER.

Go to the ER now (or call emergency services) if…

These are red-flag symptoms that should be treated as emergencies:

• Trouble breathing, fast breathing, ribs pulling in with breaths, blue/gray lips or face.
• Severe allergic reaction: facial/lip/tongue swelling, trouble breathing, widespread hives with vomiting or dizziness.
• Seizure, fainting, or your child is very hard to wake/confused.
• Head injury with loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, worsening headache, or unusual behavior.
• Severe bleeding that won’t stop with firm pressure.
• Suspected broken bone with deformity (bone looks out of place), severe pain, or numbness/tingling.
• Severe dehydration: no urine for 8–12 hours, very dry mouth, no tears, lethargy, or sunken eyes (especially in babies).
• Fever in a baby under 3 months (or any infant who looks very ill).
• Poisoning/ingestion (medications, chemicals, unknown substances), or concern for overdose.
• Severe abdominal pain, especially with a hard belly, persistent vomiting, or pain in the lower right abdomen.
• Any situation where you feel your child is not safe to wait.

Urgent Care is usually best for…

Urgent care is a strong option when your child needs prompt care but is stable. 

Why parents choose urgent care: Urgent care is a go-to option when you need your child seen the same day but your pediatrician is fully booked. Many urgent care clinics can also provide on-site testing, like rapid strep, flu, or COVID tests, and may offer X-rays, which can speed up answers and treatment decisions. It’s also especially helpful during evenings and weekends when your pediatrician’s office is closed, so you’re not forced to wait until the next business day.

Your Pediatrician is best for… Your child’s pediatrician should be your home base for routine and long-term care, including well visits, vaccines, and growth and developmental check-ins. They’re also the best fit for ongoing or recurring concerns, like asthma management plans, eczema, constipation, and repeated ear infections, because they can follow patterns over time and adjust care as your child grows. Pediatricians are ideal for behavior and sleep concerns, school-related issues, anxiety, and ADHD evaluations, and they’re a great choice when symptoms are mild, improving, and safe to wait for an appointment. They should also handle follow-ups after urgent care or ER visits to make sure your child is recovering well and to coordinate next steps if anything needs closer monitoring. Why it matters: your pediatrician knows your child’s history, tracks progress across multiple visits, and can coordinate referrals to specialists when needed.

Common scenarios (where to go)

1) Ear pain + low fever

• Usually urgent care or pediatrician (same/next day).
• ER only if severe swelling behind the ear, stiff neck, extreme lethargy, or severe dehydration.

2) Sore throat + fever

• Urgent care or pediatrician for strep testing and guidance.
• ER if trouble breathing, drooling with inability to swallow, or signs of dehydration.

3) Asthma/wheezing

• Urgent care if mild–moderate and improving with rescue inhaler.
• ER if your child is struggling to breathe, can’t speak in full sentences (age-appropriate), lips look bluish, or rescue meds aren’t helping.

4) Cut on the face

• Urgent care is often ideal, especially if it needs stitches and it’s within a few hours of the injury.
• ER if bleeding won’t stop, the wound is deep with visible fat/muscle, or there’s concern for a head injury.

5) Head bump after a fall

• Urgent care if your child is acting normal and symptoms are mild.
• ER for loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, worsening headache, confusion, seizure, or very abnormal sleepiness.

If you’re stuck between urgent care and the ER, choose the safer option—especially for breathing problems, dehydration, head injuries, or very young infants. And if you’re deciding between urgent care and the pediatrician, urgent care makes sense when you can’t get a timely appointment or symptoms are worsening.

Need care today? Walk in to Night Watch Urgent Care in Manassas at 11700 Sudley Manor Dr, Manassas, VA 20109, or call (703) 589-9695 to check wait times and options.