Who is an Infectious Disease Specialist
An infectious disease (ID) doctor or specialist (also known as an Infectiologist) is a physician who specializes in infectious diseases that can affect your skin, urinary tract, lungs, blood, and virtually any region of your body.
Examples of common infectious diseases are the flu, measles, the common cold, strep throat, COVID-19, and Salmonella.
When You Don’t Need to See an Infectious Disease Doctor?
You do not need to visit an infectious disease specialist anytime you have a virus or infection, as most healthcare professionals can treat common infections and viruses. An infectious disease doctor in Kolkata is an expert in diagnosing, managing, and treating rare, complex, serious, or long-term infections.
Why an Infectious Disease (ID) Doctor Is Called a Detective of Organisms in the Human Body
They take tiny details of a person’s medical history or laboratory results into account and try to understand and control an infectious disease.
What Does an Infectious Disease Specialist Do
Here are the key responsibilities of an Infectiologist in Kolkata:
1. Detailed Diagnosis & Personalize the Infection Treatment
- Identify the cause of infection.
- Pinpoint the reason for the symptoms, such as high fevers or unusual lab results.
- Diagnose if the disease is caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or prions.
- Conduct research on how organisms affect various parts of the body and how these organisms can affect society as a whole.
- Treating an infection because of antibiotic resistance (antibiotics aren’t working).
2. Infection Control and Prevention
- Provide hygienic measures to prevent the spread of severe infection.
- Collaborate with other healthcare professionals, ensuring hospital-wide infection prevention.
- Educate society on infection prevention tips, travel-related vaccinations, and precautions.
3. Public Health and Emergency Response
- Early recognition and monitoring of emerging epidemics and pandemics.
- Help curate a health emergency preparedness plan for a natural disaster and bioemergencies.
- They actively study antiviral resistance and focus on how rapidly viruses mutate and develop resistance to antiviral medicines.
What Conditions Do Infectious Disease Doctors Treat?
There is a wide range of infections that they can treat; some of them are:
- Clostridium difficile (C diff)
- E coli
- Fevers
- Hepatitis
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Streptococcal infections
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Whooping cough (pertussis)
- HIV/AIDS
- Leukocytosis (high white blood cell count, (WBCs))
- Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases
- Measles
- Meningococcal disease
- Mpox
Most Common Infectious Diseases in India
The most common infectious diseases in India are:
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Malaria
- Dengue Fever
- Typhoid
- Hepatitis
- Diarrheal Diseases
- Influenza (Flu)
- Lower Respiratory Infections
“Infectious” Disease Specialist Qualifications in India
They need to complete an MBBS degree followed by a postgraduate qualification like MD/DNB in General Medicine, Pediatrics, Microbiology, Respiratory Medicine, or Tropical Medicine, then a super-specialty degree such as DM (3 years, NMC-recognized) or FNB/DrNB (2-3 years, NBE-recognized) in Infectious Diseases.
When to Consult the Best Infectiologist in Kolkata? The Signs
You can consult the best Infectious Disease consultant, like Dr. Soumendra Nath Halder, if you experience the following symptoms:
- Constant unexplained fever lasting for days or weeks, especially with night sweats, weight loss, chills, or fatigue.
- Repeated episodes of infections (e.g., UTIs, respiratory issues) not responding to antibiotics.
- Travel-related illnesses, severe rashes, coughs lasting more than 1 week accompanied by blood or mucus, or shortness of breath.
- Infections in immunocompromised states such as HIV, cancer, diabetes, device-related (e.g., catheters), or post-surgery complications.
- Infections developed after surgery.
- Quickly spreading skin infection.
Why Choose IRIS Hospital for Treating Infectious Diseases in Kolkata
Choosing IRIS Multispeciality Hospital in Kolkata for treating infectious diseases means you are under the guidance of an experienced infectious disease specialist and a consultant team. We are equipped with the latest diagnostic and treatment technology for the accurate detection of microorganisms. We prioritize patient-centric care throughout the treatment journey (from diagnosis to post-treatment care).
Our areas of expertise include:
- HIV/AIDS Care
- Hospital-Acquired Infections
- Travel Medicine
- Tropical Medicine (managing diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, chikungunya, and other vector-borne illnesses)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (optimize antimicrobial therapy and minimize unnecessary antibiotic use)
Contact us at: +91 8929579509
Our Address: 82/1, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700047 Open: 24x7