Pediatric Infectious Disease

Most bacteria — tiny organisms that can live inside a human body — are harmless or sometimes even helpful to humans, but many can cause illnesses. Examples of bacteria-related infections and conditions include:

Abdominal abscesses

These are pockets of infected fluid (pus) that form inside the tissue or organs of the belly, such as the stomach, kidneys, or intestines.

Bone and joint infections

Infections of bone tissue (osteomyelitis) or joints (septic arthritis) are frequently the result of bacterial infections, especially staph infections.

Cellulitis

This skin infection can cause painful red rashes that are warm to the touch. It can occur anywhere on the body, but most commonly affects the lower legs and feet.

Central nervous system infections

These conditions include bacterial infection of the protective layer surrounding the brain and spinal cord (bacterial meningitis), as well as pus-filled abscesses in the brain.

Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)

This highly contagious bacteria can cause severe and sometimes bloody diarrhea, pain, vomiting, and other symptoms. In severe cases, the bacteria can do lasting damage to the large intestine.

Complicated pneumonia

A lung infection (pneumonia) that leads to additional or more severe medical complications, such as significant pus buildup in the space between the lungs and the inner chest wall (pleural empyema).

Complicated urinary tract infections (complicated UTIs)

This refers to UTIs that are especially difficult to treat, have symptoms (pain when urinating, fever, etc.) more severe than a typical UTI, affect a greater extent of the urinary tract than in a typical UTI, or develop in a child with a compromised immune system.

Endocarditis

Infection of the inner lining of the heart.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

This infection causes red, swollen, painful, and/or pus-filled rashes on skin. It is caused by a form of staph bacteria that has become resistant to several medications.

Recurrent infections

Infections that keep coming back multiple times within a relatively short period of time (for example, one or more per month) after a child has had a period of recovery.

Recurrent sinopulmonary infections

Frequently recurring infections of the lungs or nasal sinuses, which can lead to chest congestion, tightness, or difficulty breathing.

Surgical-site infections

Even when great care is taken, bacteria can sometimes still enter the body through surgical incisions, which can lead to redness, pus buildup, fever, or other signs of infection.

Tuberculosis (TB)

This condition is caused by a type of bacteria that infect the lungs, resulting in symptoms like coughing, chest pain, difficulty breathing, fever, and loss of appetite.

These infections are frequently or exclusively caused by fungi, plant-like organisms that grow by releasing chemicals to break down and absorb nutrients from their environment. Examples include:

Fungal pneumonia

This includes a variety of lung infections caused specifically by fungi, usually after a child breathes in fungal spores.

Histoplasmosis

This infection primarily targets the lungs. It is caused by fungi that live in tainted soil, which can be thrown up in the air when earth is disturbed (for example, by a construction project).

Lung nodules

Some fungal spores can cause small masses of tissue, called nodules, to develop in lungs after being breathed in. This is more likely to occur in a child with an already weakened immune system.

These conditions are not necessarily infections themselves, and the causes are not fully understood. However, they are more likely to develop in children who have had a recent viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. Examples include:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis)

Extreme tiredness that lasts at least six months and does not fully improve with rest. It may be triggered by a variety of viral infections or any other infections or conditions that strain the immune system.

Kawasaki disease

This condition typically affects children under age 5 who have recently had a viral infection. It causes swelling of small and medium-sized blood vessels, which can lead to fever, red eyes, and swelling.

Myositis

The immune system mistakenly attacks muscle tissue, leading to symptoms like weakness, pain, fatigue, and in some cases even irregular heartbeat.

These diseases are caused by germs or parasites that are carried by an infected organism (known as a vector) and transmitted to humans, usually by insect bites. Examples include:

Lyme disease

This infection is caused by a bacteria that spreads through tick bites. Early symptoms can include headaches, fever, fatigue, joint pain, and a gradually expanding circular rash at the bite site. If untreated, symptoms can become more severe and affect more parts of the body.

Malaria

This condition is caused by parasites that spread through mosquito bites. It is most common in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. Symptoms often begin a few weeks after the bite and may include fever, chills, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, and pain.

Viruses are sub-microscopic germs that contain a small amount of genetic material. They hijack individual cells in a person’s body, then reprogram them to create more copies of themselves. Examples of conditions frequently or exclusively caused by viruses include:

Fever of unknown origin

This refers to prolonged fevers — commonly lasting three weeks or longer — that don’t have an obvious explanation even after an initial medical evaluation. Although there are many possible causes, viral infections are the most common.

Hepatitis B

This liver infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, yellowed eyes and skin (jaundice), and dark urine. Young children who develop HBV are at increased risk of developing long-term symptoms, including liver damage, later in life.

Hepatitis C

This liver infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which gradually damages the liver over time if not treated. However, symptoms may not be noticeable for years or decades, after the liver has already sustained a lot of damage.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

This blood-borne virus destroys white blood cells, which detect and fight infections. Over time, an HIV infection can weaken the immune system so severely that even minor infections can cause prolonged, severe symptoms — a condition known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although HIV is not curable, regular treatment can keep your child’s immune system strong and greatly reduce their risk of developing AIDS later in life.

Myocarditis

Inflammation of the heart muscle tissue.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium, a fluid-filled sac that surrounds and protects the heart.

Recurrent fever

This refers to multiple fevers that occur over a relatively short period of time (for example, one or more fevers of at least a few days per month), often with no obvious initial cause.

Our team provides specialized testing and care for children who are at increased risk of developing serious infections or complications — for example, due to recent life events or underlying health conditions of the child or mother. These include:

Congenital and perinatal infections

These infections are transmitted directly from a mother to a child, either during pregnancy (congenital) or during labor and delivery (perinatal). Examples include congenital syphilis, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and hepatitis C.

Infections in immunocompromised children

If your child has a condition that weakens their immune system, their body won’t be able to fight off infections as easily. This can lead to more frequent, more severe, and longer periods of illness.

Infections in international adoptees

Children adopted from foreign countries may be carrying certain infectious diseases or more likely to contract them for a variety of reasons, including high infection rates, or lack of vaccines or screening tests in their countries of origin.

Infections related to cancer

Certain infections can make a child more likely to develop cancer later in life, due to how the infection affects the structure or function of DNA. Additionally, children with cancer may be more likely to contract infectious diseases due to a compromised immune system.

Travel-related infections

Traveling to other parts of the world can expose children to infectious diseases that are more common in those areas.