Infectious Diseases

Fighting infectious diseases today is much easier than in the past. With proper hygiene and precautions, in addition to numerous vaccines and rapidly advancing medical technology, people are better equipped than ever to avoid getting sick.

Services

We provide:

Evaluation and management of infants, children and adolescents with unusual or severe infections
Management of infections in immunocompromised infants, children and adolescents

Diagnosis of fever of unknown origin; management of children on home IV antibiotics
Immunization advice for infants, children and adolescents traveling abroad

Infection Prevention

Prevention is the key to fighting many infectious diseases. Part of preventing the spread of an infectious disease includes:

Proper hand-washing techniques
Following the nationally recommended immunization schedule for children and adults
Taking medications correctly

Even with proper prevention, sometimes a disease is unavoidable. This may be due to the following:

Evolution of drug-resistant strains of a disease
Changes in a person's environment
Increased travel
Inappropriate use of prescription drugs
Lack of attention to proper personal hygiene

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

The organism Staphylococcus aureus is found on many individuals' skin and seems to cause no major problems. However, if it gets inside the body, for instance under the skin or into the lungs, it can cause infections, such as boils or pneumonia. Individuals who carry this organism are usually healthy, have no problems and are considered simply to be carriers of the organism. MRSA is used to describe those examples of this organism that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Methicillin was an antibiotic used many years ago to treat patients with Staphylococcus aureus infections. It is now no longer used except as a means of identifying this particular type of antibiotic resistance.

Individuals can become carriers of MRSA in the same way that they can become a carrier of ordinary Staphylococcus aureus, which is by physical contact with the organism. If the organism is on the skin then it can be passed on by physical contact. If the organism is in the nose or is associated with the lungs rather than the skin, then it may be passed around by droplets spread from the mouth and nose. We can find out if and where Staphylococcus aureus is located on a patient by taking various samples, sending them to the laboratory and growing the organism. Testing on any Staphylococcus aureus grown from such specimens can then decide how sensitive the organisms are to antibiotics and if it is a methicillin-resistant (MRSA) organism. These tests usually take 2-3 days.

COVID-19

COVID-19 is still a leading cause of death in children, and there can be significant mental health impacts on children when they bring the virus home to their families. Routine vaccination is an important preventive care service that should not be delayed.

COVID vaccines have been extensively studied, tested and used around the world. Getting a vaccination is a safer and more dependable way to build immunity than getting sick with COVID-19. In addition to being the best way to be protected, vaccination also decreases the risk of reinfection.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for children 6 months and older.
Getting vaccinated can help protect children against COVID-19.
Some children may have mild and temporary side effects after COVID-19 vaccination.
Children receive a smaller dose of COVID-19 vaccine than teens and adults, based on age, not on a child’s size or weight.
Children who have already had COVID-19 should still get vaccinated for added protection.
Children can safely receive other vaccines the same day they receive their COVID-19 vaccine.

Because our top priority is the safety and health of our patients and families, employees, physicians and community, Driscoll asks that you please wear a mask if you’ve had:

Any symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough, fever or shortness of breath
Positive COVID-19 test in the past 10 days
Contact with someone infected with COVID-19 in the past 10 days

Most fever, cough and cold symptoms can be managed at home with over-the-counter medications like Tylenol and Motrin, and oral hydration fluids like Pedialyte. However, we encourage you to bring your child to the Emergency Department if your:

Child is having difficulty breathing
Child is dehydrated (crying without tears, infrequent urination)
Child is overly drowsy or hard to wake

Call your primary care physician or bring your baby to the Emergency Department if he/she is less than 3 months old and has a fever (a temperature greater than 100.4 degrees).

COVID-19 Resources

CDC Information on COVID-19 and COVID-19 Vaccines City of Corpus Christi COVID-19 Resources

Locations

Refer a Patient

Seamless Specialist Care

Visit all your child's specialists in one trip to Driscoll Children's Hospital.

Contact any of our specialty clinics to schedule a convenient one-day visit to all your child’s specialists.

Call 361-694-5000 or your
specialty clinic.