When you experience symptoms of a possible infection, your first instinct is to see your primary care physician. However, if you suspect your infection is more serious than just a seasonal virus, you may need to consult an infectious disease specialist. This is especially true if you are undergoing treatment – such as chemotherapy – and your body is unable to fight off infections like it used to.
Signs that suggest you have an infection include:
- Fever
- Chills and sweats
- Sudden onset of pain
- A new cough
- A sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Nasal congestion
- A stiff neck
- Burning or pain when urinating
- Unusual vaginal discharge or irritation
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Redness, soreness, or swelling in any area
- Pain in the abdomen or rectum
Why See an Infectious Disease Specialist?
An infectious disease specialist’s expertise is in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of illnesses caused by microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, that are contracted from other people, the environment, animals, or insects. They have particular insight into the proper use of antibiotics, immunology (how your body fights infection), epidemiology (how infections spread), and infection control that enables them not only to diagnose and understand the infection but also to prevent recurrent infections.
The most frequent conditions treated by an infectious disease specialist include:
- Clostridium difficile (an infection of the large intestine)
- HIV
- Pneumonia
- Hepatitis B and C
- Urinary tract infections
- Skin infections
- Wound infections
- Lyme disease
- Sexually transmitted diseases
Infectious disease specialists practice in both inpatient (hospital) and outpatient settings, where they help determine whether treatment is needed and what course of treatment is necessary. When you meet with an infectious disease specialist, they will review your medical records, X-rays, and laboratory reports, and may perform a physical examination, depending on your type of problem. They may also order blood serum studies for antibodies that indicate the presence of an unusual or uncommon disease.
Infectious disease specialists often confer with a patient’s personal physician on which diagnostic testing and forms of treatment are best suited to their specific needs. If you are hospitalized for an infection or acquire one while hospitalized, an infectious disease specialist follows up and helps direct your care. They may also continue to see you once you are discharged.
Infectious Disease Specialists in Syracuse, New York
The Department of Medicine at SUNY: Upstate Medical University has an infectious disease division that is devoted to providing patient care, teaching, and biomedical research in the areas of microbiology, immunology, and transferrable diseases. Our infectious disease physicians offer a comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic services and, along with our entire staff, are committed to providing outstanding medical care in a comfortable and convenient environment.
Our board-certified specialists focus on infections that affect all areas of the body, including the sinuses, heart, brain, lungs, urinary tract, bowel, bones, and pelvic organs. They also provide counseling for healthy people before and after they travel to countries where there is an increased risk of infections and diseases, providing all appropriate vaccinations and prescriptions for medicine needed for the prevention and treatment of illness while abroad.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact your infectious disease provider directly. You can also email the Department of Medicine at SUNY: Upstate Medical University at DeptMedicine@upstate.edu to find out more.
