When to See an Infectious Disease Physician
To understand how the work of an Infectious Disease Physician works, it is important to first get an idea of when one requires to see one. This is due to the fact that not all infectious diseases require a visit to the Infectious Disease Physician. In fact, most infections can be attended to by your general care physician.
There are, however, those that will need the attention of an Infectious Disease Physician. Examples of such times are when you are experiencing a high fever that may be due to an infection, an infection that exudes signs of being potentially serious or if treatment backfires. Here, specialized care of an Infectious Disease Physician may be needed for making an accurate diagnosis. With their knowledge, they will be able to provide direction on tests that stands a better chance at diagnosing and providing a better understanding of the infection.
If a diagnosis has already been made, their expertise may come in handy when it comes to managing the disease at hand. This involves determining whether or not treatment is necessary in that case. If so, they recommend to your physician treatment that will be suitable for your situation. They may also offer direction in terms of hospital care in the event that you are hospitalized.
What an Infectious Disease Physician Does
For the treatment to be successful, an Infectious Disease Physician usually follows certain standard procedures. One of them involves going through the patient’s medical information. This includes various medical reports such as laboratory and X-ray records among others. A physical assessment of the patient is also necessary. This will be conducted as per the type of problem that is at hand.
Apart from studying previous lab reports, Infectious Disease Physician may also need to order some laboratory studies themselves. These may be an extension of what the general physician might already have done. Through these studies, they can discover any unusual presence in the body.
Collaboration with Other Physicians
Generally, Infectious Disease Physician does not work alone. They most times work in collaboration with other physicians. This is why you first need to seek medical help from your Primary Care Physician. As part of their procedure, they may end up referring you to an Infectious Disease Physician.
What to Expect During Your Visit to an Infectious Disease Physician
It is recommended for you to have first visited a primary physician who will determine whether the intervention of an Infectious Disease Physician is necessary. The Infectious Disease Physician will then conduct a preliminary evaluation to determine the best way to go about your needs. This will involve a review of your medical history. They may also ask about any recent travel and contacts to determine potential exposures to infectious conditions.
If there are any records from the doctor who will have referred you, they will review them as well as any previous ones from the given institutions. This will be followed by a physical examination after which the Infectious Disease Physician will give recommendations. If a follow-up appointment is necessary, it will also be scheduled.
What Research About Can Teach You
Leave a Reply