When should my child see a pediatric infectious disease specialist?

Many children with infections or symptoms will first see one of our pediatricians who may provide an initial treatment. They then may refer you to one of our pediatric infectious disease specialists if:

• Your child does not get better with treatment.
• Your child has complex medical diagnoses

First-rate care for immunocompromised children

Seeing our pediatric infectious disease specialists is especially important if your child is immunocompromised. Children who are immunocompromised have a weakened immune system, which makes them more vulnerable to serious infections.

We can diagnose and treat infections in immunocompromised children before they become life-threatening.

Symptoms of pediatric infectious diseases

An unexplained fever is often the first sign of an infectious disease. Your child may experience additional symptoms unique to their infection:

• Bone or join infections: Your child may experience pain in their limb or have trouble walking.
• Pneumonia or complicated pneumonia: Your child may have trouble breathing or have a chronic cough.

Other symptoms of pediatric infectious diseases can be vague and even similar to symptoms of other conditions. And that often makes them difficult to diagnose. Our pediatric infectious disease doctors specialize in uncovering even the most complex causes of your child’s symptoms.

 Follow-up care at the hospital

If your child is hospitalized with an infection, they may see one of our pediatric infectious disease specialists. They can coordinate with pediatric hospitalists to properly treat:

• Complicated pneumonia after viral infections such as influenza
• Meningitis
• A fever with an unknown diagnosis

After you and your child return home, our pediatric infectious disease specialists can follow up to ensure treatment worked effectively.

What to expect with MU Health pediatric infectious diseases

You can expect your child’s first visit with our pediatric infectious disease doctor to last for about an hour. Here’s what we’ll do in the appointment:

• Discuss your child’s health history in detail, including how often your child gets infections or fevers.
• Discuss your child’s current symptoms.
• Perform a physical exam.
• Perform lab work, if needed, such as a blood draw, ultrasounds or X-rays.

We’ll also discuss additional testing, if needed, as well as treatment options for your child.

Rapid diagnostic testing

Within our advanced technological labs, we’re able to run diagnostic tests faster and more accurately. This allows us to identify your child’s infection and get them started on treatment quickly.

Our collaborative approach to care

Our pediatric infectious disease team works closely with other pediatric specialists to address your child’s overall health needs. Depending on your child’s condition, they work closely with other specialists, including:

• Immunologists who treat health concerns caused by immune system problems.
• Oncologists who treat blood cancers.
• Pulmonologists who treat lung or respiratory problems.
• Ear, nose and throat specialists who treat ear infections, sore throat or other related problems.

Incorporating antibiotics safely

Misusing and overusing antibiotics can make infections harder to treat. But we know that when prescribed correctly antibiotics can be an effective, and even lifesaving, treatment.

You can count on our pediatric infectious disease team to incorporate antibiotics into your child’s care plan as safely as possible. And with more medication options than ever before, our specialists know which ones are most effective.

We have an active hospital-based antimicrobial stewardship program to make sure your child is receiving the best medication to treat their condition while guarding against antibiotic resistance. As an academic health system, this program is based on the latest research to make sure your child receives the best care possible.