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Pediatric Infectious Diseases Physician |
Career OverviewA pediatric infectious diseases physician works with infants, children and teenagers that have a persistent or recurring disease caused by contractible agents such as fungus, bacteria, a parasite or other unusual or rare infections. A pediatric infectious diseases physician has the training, qualifications and expertise to work with the child’s pediatrician to diagnose and treat the patient.
These physicians treat a very wide range of immunologic diseases often caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and infections. Some of the atypical or extremely complicated diseases that a doctor consults a pediatric infectious diseases physician on are:
- Joint and bone infections.
- Illnesses and conditions that cause a prolonged fever, conditions that keep reoccurring or have an unclear cause.
- Respiratory infections.
- Meningitis – This is an infectious disease, characterized by inflammation of the tissues surrounding the spinal cord and brain or meninges. Meningitis, a disease typically caused by a bacterial infection, has symptoms such as a stiff neck, nausea, headache and fever.
- Tuberculosis – This is another infectious disease transmitted through either ingesting or inhaling the tubercle bacilli. The symptoms of tuberculosis are fever and tiny lesions found in the lungs but in acute stages, show up on other body parts.
- Hepatitis – A toxin or virus causes hepatitis, which is an inflammation of the liver.
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome – AIDS is a very serious and often fatal disease of a patient’s immune system. People transmit this disease through infected blood products, contaminated needles and sexual contact.
A pediatric infectious diseases physician works at preventing and treating communicable diseases. They work with children and consult their patient’s family to discuss the appropriate treatments and course of action needed. A pediatric infectious diseases physician also orders testing that helps them determine the illness and severity.
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Career RequirementsA pediatric infectious diseases physician is a medical doctor who has graduated from medical school and completed three or more years of pediatric training and residency. They complete an additional three years of training before being certification as a pediatric infectious diseases physician.
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Job OutlookAs pediatric infectious disease physicians retire over the next eight to ten years and the health care industry continues to grow along with the population, the outlook for physicians, specialty physicians and surgeons looks extremely promising.
With new technology increasing the productivity of physicians and surgeons and consumers demanding better health care, the medical community continues to grow. There are also some shortages in specific geographic areas, such as rural, that should appeal to new pediatric infectious disease physicians.
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Career TrackMany pediatric infectious diseases physicians start their careers working in children’s hospitals or large community hospitals. There are always options for career advancement and changes within the hospital setting.
They may choose to enter into a management position or become a senior staff member working on a treatment team. Some choose to go into private practice, teaching at colleges and universities or enter the research field.
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CompensationThe annual earnings for a pediatric infectious disease physician average from approximately $184,200 to over $252,900.
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