Infectious Diseases

Our Division of Infectious Diseases is the major referral center for infectious diseases in the Washington, D.C., area, helping thousands of patients each year, and actively promoting prevention through community outreach and education.

Infectious diseases include any disease or illness caused by germs, such as bacteria and viruses. While you can take steps to prevent disease and infection through proper hygiene and other practices, children are often at an increased risk for certain conditions while their immune systems are still developing and simply because of exposure – kids being kids.

Because diagnosis and care for an infectious disease can be complex, it is important for your child to see a pediatric specialist who can accurately diagnose and treat your child's condition. Children's National Hospital's comprehensive services include care for children with infectious diseases and epidemiological tracking that, for contagious conditions, helps limit the spread of infection and prevent further outbreaks:

• Bone and joint infections
• Fever of unknown origin
• HIV/AIDS
• Infectious Mononucleosis
• Influenza
• Lyme disease
• Meningitis
• MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus)
• Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Tuberculosis

Inpatient and outpatient consultations for the full range of infectious diseases in immunocompetent and immunocompromised children are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Inpatient consultation is available for all hospitalized patients, including general ward patients, surgical, intensive care, solid organ and stem cell transplant patients. The Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinic serves the needs for subspecialty referral form primary care providers throughout the Washington Metropolitan area, as well as internal referrals from Children’s National staff.

Research

Many of the division's physicians – dually board certified in pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases – are involved in both teaching and research in infectious diseases and epidemiology at Children's National and at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Public Health in Washington, D.C. Several faculty members also participate in government committees to assist in the development of national infectious diseases guidelines.

Telehealth

Our Division of Infectious Diseases offers a virtual clinic, allowing patients to be evaluated from home. Along with in-person visits, this enables us to optimize and tailor care for every child and family. Telehealth decreases wait times and allows simple issues to be addressed quickly. Among the benefits of video visits are: 

• Increased frequency of visits for high-risk patients
• Patients with autism can be seen in their home setting
• Dietitians can view inside the home refrigerator
• Multiple providers at various locations can share screens and coordinate video visits
• Can be combined with in-person visits when deemed appropriate
• Saves clinic slots for patients that need to be seen in person

In addition, video visits remove barriers to care, such as: 

• Transportation
• Child care for other children
• Fear of exposure to illness for at-risk patients in a hospital setting
• Missed work

Please call the Bear Line at 1-888-884-BEAR (2327) to schedule and learn more.