Pediatric Infectious Disease Care

Getting a quick diagnosis and the right treatment is important in fighting childhood infectious illnesses. At MaineHealth, we provide expert care that is convenient and close to home, including urgent care, emergency care, walk-in clinics, doctor’s offices and hospital care.

From the flu and mono to Lyme disease and meningitis, our doctors are ready to provide evaluation and treatment for a complete range of conditions.

For young patients who need referrals to see a specialist, The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital offers Maine’s only dedicated pediatric infectious disease program.

What is a pediatric infectious disease?

An infectious disease in a child is an illness caused by a virus, bacteria, or other infectious organism.  Infections happen to every child. There are many different types of infectious diseases. Some of the more common types of infectious diseases in children are colds, ear infections, pneumonia or the flu.

Children can get over most childhood infectious illnesses on their own with extra rest and loving care. Some children may get sicker because of a pre-existing condition, such as asthma, or a weakened immune system. Some infectious diseases are more serious than others.

Evaluation and treatment of infectious diseases in children

The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center has specialists who can work with your primary care doctor to treat a full range of problems in infants, children and adolescents. They include:

  • Blood stream infection (Sepsis)
  • Bone and joint infections
  • Clostridium difficile colitis (C diff)
  • Pneumonia
  • Encephalitis
  • Food-borne diseases such as salmonella
  • Hepatitis
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Influenza
  • Lyme disease
  • Malaria and other travel-related diseases
  • Meningitis
  • MRSA
  • Mononucleosis
  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
  • Tuberculosis (TB)

Find the best care for infectious diseases

Call your doctor if you are worried that your child is sick. Your doctor may simply recommend rest or may prescribe medicine. Sometimes children are referred to an infectious disease specialist. Infectious disease specialists are experts in the signs and symptoms of infectious diseases, their treatments, and their prognosis. 

Travel clinic keeps families safe

If you and your family are planning to travel outside the United States, make the travel clinic at The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital one of your first stops before departure. The staff will tell you about any country-specific vaccines, as well as preventative measures to take against malaria and to ensure food safety.