Mononucleosis, influenza, and Lyme disease are three infections that an infectious disease specialist may diagnose, confirm, or treat. An infectious disease specialist has researched a wide range of infections that can be transmitted from person-to-person, from animal-to-person, or through the environment.
A Specialist's Testing Procedures
An infectious disease specialist uses blood studies and cultures to confirm if a disease is present. X-rays, medical exams, and internal imaging can also support whether or not a person has a particular illness. A specialist may order additional tests and exams if the initial tests did not provide conclusive results. Not everyone who is sick is going to need to be seen by a specialist. If a primary medical doctor is able to confirm a particular diagnosis, a specialist may not need to be seen.
In some cases, a specialist's role may be to confirm the test results that a doctor has been presented with. A doctor may consult with a specialist, to determine a patient's prognosis and the best course of action for them to follow during the treatment phase. It is vital that the proper diagnosis is made. This will give a patient the best chance of either making a full recovery or reducing the number of symptoms that they are currently dealing with.
A Specialist's Services
If a doctor is unable to substantiate if one of their patients has a particular infectious disease, they may refer the patient to a specialist. A specialist may order a series of tests for the patient to undergo. They may keep the patient quarantined during the testing phase. A disease that is easily spread will require that an infected person does not come into contact with others.
After the testing is complete, an individual will be presented with their prognosis. Some infectious diseases will go away on their own. A sickness may need to run its course. Some sicknesses will require that medication is taken. An individual may be required to take an antibiotic. Some diseases may be ones that will never go away completely. A specialist may provide a patient with some prescriptions that will help with reducing the side effects that a sickness is typically noted for.
If a patient has contracted a sickness that will not go away on its own, the individual will likely need to receive some follow-up services. A specialist may request that a patient makes an appointment with them for further testing. A patient may also be referred back to their primary medical provider.
To learn more, contact an infectious disease specialist such as Holly M Gilbert MD.
