Infectious Disease
Everyone gets infections from time to time. But if you get sick with a serious infection, you need the infectious disease specialists at Providence to help diagnose, evaluate and treat your condition.
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, are caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites and come in many different forms. Even if you’re diligent about washing your hands and following proper food handling practices, you can still get sick. While some infectious diseases are spread through human contact, some aren’t — which can make them challenging to diagnose.
Our doctors have expertise in infections of the brain, heart, lungs, urinary tract, pelvic organs, bowel, bones and sinuses. They are also trained in immunology (how the body fights infection), epidemiology (how infections spread), the proper use of antibiotics and infection control.
While your primary care provider can treat most common infections, there are times when you will need to see a specialist. If you have a complex infection that’s hard to diagnose, is accompanied by a persistent high fever or is not responding to treatment, you may be referred to an infectious disease specialist.
Our board-certified infectious disease specialists can help diagnose and treat a wide variety of bacterial, fungal, viral and wound-related infections, including:
- E. coli
- Food poisoning
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS)
- Lyme disease
- Malaria
- Measles
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- Mumps
- Pneumonia
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
- Tetanus
- Toxic shock syndrome
- Tuberculosis
- Whooping cough
Most conditions can be treated with antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals or antiparasitic medications. Your doctor will create a treatment plan that works best for you based on your specific condition and symptoms.
Doctors Specializing in Infectious Disease
At Providence, you'll have access to a vast network of dedicated and compassionate providers who offer personalized care by focusing on treatment, prevention and health education.
