Infectious disease

Pediatric infectious disease specialists at Dell Children’s Medical Center care for children with bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections.

Mom taking sick child's temperature.

Pediatric infectious disease care at Dell Children's

Pediatric infectious disease doctors at Dell Children’s Medical Center at Ascension Seton diagnose and treat common to rare and complex infectious diseases in children, both in the hospital and in our clinics. Depending on your child’s diagnosis or condition, we work closely with your child’s pediatrician and other specialists. Our team uses some of the most advanced laboratory diagnostic testing to help diagnose your child’s infection.

We listen to understand your questions and concerns. Your child’s first appointment includes a thorough evaluation, including a discussion about their medical history, possible exposure to infections and a physical exam. Then, we create a care plan that’s right for your child and your family.

Our care team has the expertise to diagnose and treat both common and rare infections in children, and is experienced in working with children with chronic conditions.

Advanced diagnosis and treatment for infections

If your child’s infection is new or unknown, keeps coming back or does not respond to common treatment, a pediatric infectious disease doctor may become part of your child’s care team. Pediatric infectious disease doctors at Dell Children’s have the expertise to diagnose and manage even the most complex and rare infectious diseases, including:
  • Bone and joint infection
  • Congenital infections (present at birth)
  • Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
  • Endocarditis (inflammation of the heart valve)
  • Fevers of unknown origin
  • Fungal infections
  • Infections in immuno-compromised children
  • Infections in newborns
  • Infections related to technology, such as mechanical ventilation, prosthetic materials and device infections
  • Kawasaki disease
  • Lymphadenitis (enlarged lymph nodes due to infection)
  • Meningitis (inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord)
  • Necrotizing fasciitis
  • Parasitic infections
  • Pneumonia (complicated or atypical)
  • Postoperative and hospital-acquired infections
  • Sepsis
  • Tick-borne infections, such as lyme disease
  • Travel-related illness, such as typhoid fever, malaria and gastroenteritis
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Viral infections, such as COVID-19, hepatitis, HSV, CMV, EBV, enterovirus and HIV

Comprehensive infectious disease care

When you choose Dell Children’s, your child is cared for by a team of highly experienced infectious disease specialists. Our care includes:

  • Inpatient and outpatient evaluations and diagnostics for children with compromised immune systems and serious infections.
  • Prenatal and postnatal evaluations for congenital infections (present at birth).
  • Coordination of infectious disease care between you and your child’s team of doctors.
  • Advanced treatments, including IV antibiotic and immunoglobulin therapy.
  • Follow-up care for children with serious and recurrent infections.

Pediatric infectious disease doctors at Dell Children’s Medical Center also deliver care to help prevent and diagnose disease for unique needs.  

Travel medicine and infection prevention

Pediatric infectious disease doctors at Dell Children’s can also help keep your family healthy while traveling internationally by recommending the right vaccinations for the countries to which you are traveling. Having up-to-date vaccinations and other vaccinations recommended for certain countries can help protect you and your child from infectious diseases. Doctors at Dell Children’s Medical Center at Ascension Seton can provide vaccinations for your whole family – adults and children. And, we can give you tips for keeping your family healthy while traveling. We recommend setting up an appointment one to two months before your expected travel. To schedule an appointment, call 512-628-1820.

International adoption consultation

For international adoptions, we provide consultation and assessment in pre-adoption and post-adoption for families. To find out more about the services we provide, please call 512-628-1820.

Vaccination consultation for your child

Your child’s pediatrician is your best first stop for making sure your child is up to date on general vaccinations. In some situations, such as travel or in the case of exposure to a disease, your child may need additional vaccinations. Infectious disease doctors can also recommend and provide additional vaccinations for children with complex underlying conditions when there are questions around the right vaccination strategy. These vaccinations may include:

  • COVID-19
  • Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP)
  • Flu
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
  • Meningococcal
  • Pneumococcal
  • Polio
  • Rabies
  • Rotavirus
  • Typhoid
  • Varicella (chickenpox)
  • Yellow fever

 

Infectious disease