Infectious disease is the science that studies diseases caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi that can harm the human health.
What does an infectious disease specialist do?
This specialist is in charge of diagnosing and treating infectious disease. The doctor also takes care of administering preventive procedures such as vaccines to combat infections. After selecting the appropriate treatment the doctor monitors the progress and changes the therapy if needed.
What diseases are treated by an infectious disease specialist?
Among the diseases most often treated by the specialist include infectious diseases, sexually transmitted infections caused by bacteria such as syphilis and lymphogranuloma venereum, and viral such as HPV and hepatitis, parasitic such as scabies, or fungal infection such as candida. Others include malaria, pelvic inflammatory disease, and bacterial vaginosis.
What are the procedures used by an infectious disease specialist?
An infectious disease specialist will first collect information on the medical history of the patient. After the visit the doctor may prescribe further examinations such as laboratory analysis, bacteriological cultures, elastography, and serological tests. Once everything is taken into consideration the doctor will prescribe the most appropriate treatment to eliminate the agent that caused the infection.
When should a patient visit an infectious disease specialist?
A visit is recommended if a patient has a fever of unknown origin that has lasted for several weeks and after traditional analysis failed to determine the cause. It is also recommended to visit if a patient has fever associated with skin rashes, especially after trips to tropical countries or in areas where infectious diseases are endemic.
