While most childhood illnesses run their courses with little medical care required, children can contract more serious, sometimes life-threatening, illnesses that include strains of pneumonia, viral and bacterial meningitis, tuberculosis, acute cases of influenza and many others. In addition, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can pass from mother to child, infecting a child from birth and requiring constant medical intervention to prevent the virus from becoming full-blown AIDS.

Children with severe illnesses often come to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit or to Sutter Medical Center, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Sutter Davis Hospital or Sutter Roseville Medical Center for care. Other illnesses require ongoing care that can be provided on an outpatient basis. In either case, Sutter's pediatric infectious disease specialists are charged with diagnosing the cause of the illness and determining the best treatment. Clinical microbiology laboratories with complete bacteriology, mycology, serology and virology facilities equipped with sophisticated laboratory equipment assist by isolating the source and allowing physicians to determine the most effective treatment.

Our pediatric infectious disease specialist is:

• Wanda Wenman, M.D.

For more information about specific infectious diseases and treatments available, please visit our health information section.


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