Care for rare or complex infections in children

Finding the right place to take your sick child can be scary. OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital has the best care in Oregon for children with serious infections.  

We provide top-level care in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Our providers treat serious infections that go beyond typical childhood illnesses. Find care and vaccines for common infectious diseases like flu and chickenpox.

Why trust us with your child’s health? 

• We have deep expertise, even in complex and rare conditions.
• Our team is caring and dedicated to helping your child.
• Our team has a wide range of experts who work together to provide the best care.

Services we offer

Care for unusual infections: We’re Oregon’s only academic medical center. Our team will examine your child and give expert advice based on the latest research.

HIV treatment for children: We have the only Pediatric HIV Clinic in Oregon. It provides care for children, teens and pregnant women with HIV.

Help when antibiotics don’t work: Viral infections don't need antibiotics. But they're sometimes confused with bacterial, fungal and parasite infections. Our nationally recognized antibiotic stewardship program makes sure your child gets the right medication at the right dose for the right amount of time.

Care for children with repeat infections: Children we see often have long medical records from past treatments. Our team carefully considers all this information before creating a care plan.

Long-term management for weak immune systems: Children with immune problems face more infection risks during their whole lives compared to children with normal immune systems. Our team considers each child’s risk, prescribes needed antibiotics and watches them closely over time.

Care for surgical and ICU patients: Our providers are part of your child's larger care team. They treat infections while working with pediatricians, intensive care doctors, cancer doctors, surgeons and other experts.

Antibiotic treatment at home: Children who need antibiotics by IV or mouth can get treatment outside the hospital through our pediatric outpatient antibiotic therapy program.

Learn more about our services:

• Preventing pediatric infectious disease
• Symptoms that require specialist care
• Conditions we treat
• Treatment approaches

Becoming a patient

To see one of our specialists, ask your child’s primary care provider for a referral. Our team reviews all referral requests and responds to the most serious diseases and cases first.

What to expect at your first visit

During your first appointment, be ready to answer many questions to help us learn more about your child’s infection. Some might not seem important, but experience has taught us that good care comes from understanding many different things your child has been exposed to during their life.

Understanding pediatric infectious disease

Most childhood infections get better with time or with antibiotics. But some may last longer, come back or cause serious problems. These need expert care.

Pediatric infectious disease specialists can help:

• Find out if your sick child has an infection
• Recommend the right antibiotic if your child does have an infection
• Manage an infection that is not responding to antibiotic care

Can pediatric infectious diseases be prevented?

In many cases, yes. Vaccines are one of the most powerful tools for preventing childhood infections. They’ve saved millions of lives worldwide and have prevented even more children from going to the hospital.

Children at high risk for infections may need a personalized vaccine schedule. They may also benefit from preventive antibiotics. Our team will create a customized prevention plan for your child.

Who needs pediatric infectious disease care?

Your child might need to see our team if they have: 

• Infections that require hospital care
• Infections that keep coming back
• A fever that lasts three weeks or longer with no known cause
• Infections because of a weak immune system
• Unusual or severe symptoms that don’t get better with standard treatment
• Infections from travel or exposure to rare germs

Symptoms that need specialist care

Some symptoms need immediate care from a pediatric infectious disease specialist: 

• A fever that won’t go away, even with antibiotics
• Infections that keep coming back in the same part of the body
• Infections that slow down normal growth
• Trouble getting over common childhood infections

Diagnosing complex infections

To find the cause, our providers look at:

Medical history: We review your child's travel, contact with animals (including pets), eating habits, environment and family medical history.

Lab tests: We may do blood tests, cultures and other tests to find specific germs and see how your child’s immune system is working.

Imaging studies: We may do X-rays, CT or MRI scans when infections affect internal organs.

Some tests take days or weeks to get results. This often happens when they involve special laboratory studies.

Pediatric infectious diseases we treat

Our specialists treat many complex infectious diseases, including: 

Repeat infections: These include pneumonia, sinus infections, skin infections or other conditions that don’t respond to standard treatment.

Opportunistic infections: These happen in children with weak immune systems. They’re caused by germs that usually don’t make healthy people sick.

Travel-related infections: Diseases picked up during travel in the U.S. or other countries. These include parasitic infections, tropical diseases and germs from specific parts of the world.

Kawasaki’s disease: We treat this autoimmune disease quickly because it can damage your child’s heart arteries.

Hospital infections: Infections that develop during hospital stays. These are often from antibiotic-resistant germs and need special treatment.

Fever of unknown origin: A long-lasting fever with no clear cause after standard tests. Advanced tests may be needed.

Bone and joint infections: Deep infections in bones or joints. These need long-term antibiotic treatment and careful watching.

Brain and spinal cord infections: Meningitis, encephalitis and other brain or spinal cord infections. Immediate care is important.

Treatment for pediatric infectious disease

We find the best treatment by looking at your child’s immune system and overall health. Treatments may include:

Choosing the right antibiotic: We pick the right medicine based on tests to find the best treatment for your child's specific infection.

Right dosing: We carefully figure out medicine doses based on your child's weight, age and how well their organs work. This makes their treatment work better and reduces side effects.

Right timing: Treatment time can vary from days for simple infections to months for complex conditions.

Home IV treatment: Children who need long-term IV antibiotics can get treatment at home with regular check-ups with our team of experts.

Coordinated care

Complex infections can affect many parts of your child's body. Because of this, we bring different medical specialists together to care for your child. Our infectious disease team works with:

• Your child’s primary care provider
• Hospital pediatricians during overnight stays
• Surgical teams for infection prevention and after-surgery care
• ICU specialists for very sick children
• Other subspecialists, as needed, for your child’s condition

This approach makes sure your child gets complete treatment while also keeping clear communication between all providers involved.

Pediatric outpatient antibiotic therapy

Children with serious infections may need antibiotics for weeks or months. Treating these children outside of the hospital can help families avoid emergency room visits and long hospital stays.

We offer:

• Oral or IV antibiotics in your home
• Regular visits and virtual check-ins  
• Coordination of care, especially when your child is leaving the hospital

Our team will treat your child and monitor their health. Like a primary care provider, we serve as the hub for your child’s care during their infection. We communicate with their other health care providers and support your family through changes.  

Our family-centered approach to coordinating care has been recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Resources

• Common Infectious Diseases: Causes and Treatments, OHSU
• Overview of Infectious Diseases, healthychildren.org
• Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship, CDC