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Doctors of infectious diseases Singapore have a unique understanding of infections, including their origins, how they present themselves in your body and their potential adverse effects. These specialists can pinpoint the cause of infection when symptoms mimic other conditions. Moreover, their findings and recommended treatment aim at a patient’s full recovery.
Infectious diseases are illnesses brought about by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites that get into your body. These microorganisms can spread from person to person through surface contact (including contaminated water and food), the air, or insect bites. While symptoms and treatments will depend on the nature of the infection, most contagious diseases come with fever and fatigue.
Vaccines are available to fight off many infectious diseases. At the same time, specialists will advise thorough and frequent hand-washing to keep harmful organisms at bay.
When it comes to treatment, rest and home remedies often ease mild infections. However, more life-threatening ones need hospital treatment.
Infectious disease services deal with prevention and control of infectious diseases and contribute to community health and safety by helping:
Infectious disease doctors received clinical and laboratory training (usually through their undergraduate studies’ microbiology and infectious diseases module or post-graduate fellowship programs) to correctly identify sickness.
These physicians conduct diagnostic tests to check for antibodies. These cells from your immune system emerge when foreign substances infect your body. Thus, the presence of antibodies can indicate what infection your body has acquired.
Infectious diseases specialists generally use these diagnostic methods:
These doctors are also experts in organising the best treatment plans. Treatments may come in the form of oral or intravenous (via injection or catheter) antibiotics. Other diseases require anti-fungal, anti-parasite, or anti-viral medication or topical drugs, particularly for skin conditions.
Infectious disease physicians also promote preventive care through vaccination to help protect patients planning to travel.
Some of the most infectious diseases under this medical subspecialty are:
Specialists offer preventative services to people at risk and provide treatment to infected patients. HIV is not curable, but antiretroviral therapy (ART) is available. ART is a lifelong treatment that keeps the virus at low levels and reduces the risk of passing on the infection.
Singapore institutions offer outpatient and inpatient care for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). Some of their services include:
Institutions with HIV services prescribe prophylaxis treatment to individuals who get negative results from their HIV test but are at high risk of HIV infection after the doctor’s review.
Of the hepatitis virus (A, B, C, D and E), hepatitis B virus is the most common in Singapore. This infection is preventable through immunisation.
For carriers of the virus, infectious diseases Singapore hospital departments offer:
Paediatric infectious disease specialists work to prevent children from getting infectious diseases. They also evaluate their symptoms and provide treatment. Paediatric infectious disease doctors provide pre-travel advice and vaccination.
This subspecialty covers these conditions:
Tropical medicine covers the diagnosis, investigation and management of diseases that are more widespread or occur uniquely in tropical and subtropical regions. Some health institutions include travel medicine – which deals with health issues of international travellers – under the tropical disease department.
Infectious diseases examples requiring tropical medicine services include:
Transplant patients need to take immunosuppressants to prevent organ rejection, which occurs when your body’s immune system recognises the transplanted organ or stem cells as an invader. But while these drugs prevent transplants from coming under “attack,” the medication can make the person prone to infection.
Doctors will guide you in finding the right balance to prevent serious infection. They typically prescribe anti-fungal medication – via oral or IV drugs – for fungal infections that solid organ transplant patients often face.
Some physicians may advise you to get pre-surgery vaccination for the following to ensure you are as healthy as possible after the transplant:
Your primary care physician or general internist may refer you to a specialist in infectious diseases Singapore for specialised expertise in diagnosing or managing specific infectious diseases. You may also have to consult a specialist when your infection is severe. You acquire an infection while under hospitalisation or problems arise with the treatment of your infectious disease.
Also, seek the attention of an infectious disease doctor during these cases:
Infectious diseases always leave an impact on one’s quality of life. Although no one can stop the occurrence of new pathogens, you can protect yourself from being at risk, or at least know where to turn to when infection sets in. Find your infectious disease specialist through a roster of highly qualified doctors.
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