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Infectious Diseases
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What's an Infectious Disease Doctor?
An infectious disease specialist is an internal medicine doctor with specialized training in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of infections.
When to Get Care
Your primary care provider can treat mild infections that have the following symptoms:
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Low-grade fever
- Muscle aches
- Tiredness or weakness
Your primary care provider may refer you to a infectious disease specialist if you have more severe symptoms including:
- Severe headache
- High fever
- Rash or swelling
- Breathing problems
- Trouble seeing
Conditions Treated
See the full list of conditions we treat, and select a condition to find providers and locations near you.
- AIDS
- Autoimmune diseases
- COVID-19
- Cellulitis
- Chickenpox
- Diphtheria
- Ebola
- Endocarditis
- Enteroviruses
- Fifth disease
- Gangrene
- Giardiasis
- HIV
- Hand-foot-mouth disease
- Hepatitis
- Herpes simplex virus
- Human parainfluenza viruses
- Infectious diseases
- Lyme disease
- MRSA
- Malaria
- Measles
- Osteomyelitis
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary disease
- Rocky mountain spotted fever
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Shingles
- Thrush
- Tuberculosis
Infectious Disease Treatments
Your doctor may perform blood tests, urine tests, or imaging scans to diagnose the cause of your symptoms. Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor may recommend the following treatments:
- Antibiotics – Medications that treat infections caused by bacteria
- Antifungals – Drugs you apply to the affected area of your body or swallow to treat a fungal infection
- Antiparasitics – Medicines that fight parasites that cause infections
- Antivirals – Drugs that can prevent and treat viruses like HIV/AIDS, herpes, and influenza
How to Prevent Infections
To prevent infections, our infectious disease specialists recommend:
- Washing your hands often with soap and water
- Getting recommended vaccines
- Coughing into your elbow or a tissue
- Not touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Cleaning surfaces like door knobs, refrigerator handles, phones, and faucets with a disinfectant
- Avoiding contact with people you know are sick, if possible
Vaccinations
You can prevent some infectious diseases with vaccines. Vaccinations, also called immunizations, help your body’s immune system fight certain illnesses. Talk to your primary care provider about getting vaccinated for influenza (the flu), HPV, and other conditions.
Travel Medicine
Stay healthy while traveling to other countries. Learn more about travel medicine services from Essentia’s infectious disease team.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Learn about antibiotic overuse, resistance and stewardship.
Services Offered
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Travel Medicine
Before you travel outside the U.S., visit a travel medicine specialist at Essentia Health for education and preventive care, including vaccinations.