Children’s immune systems are still developing, which makes them more vulnerable to infections that can become severe in a short period of time. While some infections are common and easy to treat, others require specialized expertise. That’s where pediatric infectious disease specialists step in.
At UHealth, our Pediatric Infectious Disease team provides advanced care for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults up to age 25 with complex, unusual, or hard-to-treat infections. Our doctors are board-certified and nationally recognized for their expertise in caring for children with infections linked to weakened immune systems, cancer, transplant, or international travel.
We provide around-the-clock hospital consultations and dedicated outpatient clinics designed for children and families. With advanced diagnostic testing, targeted treatments, and a legacy of breakthrough research, UHealth delivers expert care when your child needs it most.
How do we test for infectious disease in kids?
Advanced diagnostics
Cutting-edge molecular tests, cultures, and imaging to pinpoint infections quickly and accurately.
Blood work and lab studies
Complete blood counts, inflammatory markers, and specialized testing to track infection.
Microbiology testing
Bacterial, viral, and fungal cultures with rapid results.
Molecular and PCR testing
Detects viruses such as CMV, HIV, or HSV, and resistant bacteria.
Imaging
X-rays, ultrasound, CT, or MRI help us check for infections in bones, joints, lungs, or other organs.
Specialized immune testing
Evaluation for immune deficiencies in children with recurrent or unusual infections.
Where can you get care for pediatric infections?
Inpatient consultations
24/7 expert evaluation and daily follow-up for hospitalized children with urgent or complex infections.
Evaluations and care at outpatient clinics
Complete evaluation, treatment, and follow-up care at our pediatric-focused clinic sites.
Treatment
Personalized medicines
Antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitic drugs tailored to your child’s condition.
HIV care and prevention
Comprehensive care for children and teens living with HIV, plus strategies to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
Transplant infectious disease care
Daily consults for children before and after transplant at the Miami Transplant Institute.
Immunization and prevention
Vaccine review, catch-up scheduling, and travel medicine support for children and families.
Care coordination and education
Clear home-care instructions, school/daycare guidance, and ongoing communication with your pediatrician.
What to Expect
Your first clinic visit:
- Comprehensive review of your child’s medical and family history, symptoms, travel, and vaccination records.
- Physical exam and, if needed, lab tests, blood work, cultures, or imaging.
- A step-by-step care plan that outlines diagnosis (or next steps), treatment, warning signs, and follow-up visits.
If your child is in the hospital:
- Daily bedside consultations and coordination with the inpatient care team.
- Immediate treatment adjustments based on lab and imaging results.
- Regular family updates and a safe discharge plan with outpatient follow-up.
After the visit:
- Written instructions for home care and how to give medicines.
- A clear schedule for follow-up visits and coordination with your pediatrician.
- Direct access to our clinic for urgent questions or changes in your child’s condition.
Research and Innovation
- Continuous NIH funding for pediatric infectious disease research.
- Participation in the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials (IMPAACT) Network and the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS).
- Research in tuberculosis (including advanced molecular tools), congenital infections, HIV, tropical medicine, and immune-based infections.
- International collaborations with leading institutions in South Africa, India, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.
Our Legacy in HIV Care
- Key role in the landmark PACTG 076 trial, proving that Zidovudine in pregnancy could reduce HIV transmission to newborns from 25% to 8%.
- Helped secure FDA approval of life-saving HIV medicines for children through pediatric trials.
- Ongoing leadership in clinical trials, cohort studies, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment worldwide.
Contact Us
For appointments or referrals, call 305-243-4447 or request an appointment online.
If you are a physician, please visit our referring provider page to connect your patient with our team.
Why Choose UHealth?
Advanced infectious disease research. Our board certified physicians conduct research on the prevention and treatment of many infectious diseases including HIV, cytomegalovirus, fungal infections, mycobacterial infections, and more. Our team helps change the future of infectious disease care so you can receive evidence-based, effective treatment, including the latest investigational drugs, to overcome infections.
Treating young patients from all over the world. Children and their families come from all over the world to receive quality care, compassionately delivered by outstanding pediatric specialists and other skilled medical professionals within our facilities.
Recognized for excellence in care. We have received the “Best Practice” designation from the Florida Department of Health and its Miami-Dade County branch for HIV testing and treatment services for 13 to 24-year-olds with the HIV infection or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Some of our doctors have also earned the “Best Doctor in America” recognition from the American Health Council.
Top-notch care in an academic health system. Backed by one of the nation’s top universities, our team uses the latest technologies and research-driven expertise to provide your child with superior, personalized care and the best outcomes possible. We’re the only academic health center in South Florida with developmental and behavioral pediatric specialists on staff.
Involvement with research and education. Members of our adolescent medicine team are also involved in research and education, allowing us to offer the latest, innovative treatments sooner than other facilities in South Florida. We have a 24-year continual experience with national research projects concerning HIV infection in youth, adolescent sexual health, and prevention of STDs in teenagers. We’re also involved in national collaborations concerning injury prevention and health promotion.
World-class health care for children. Children and families from all over the world come to receive top-quality care from our compassionate team of pediatric specialists. Your child gets personalized attention from doctors who are sought out for their expertise.
Research leads to better treatments for your child. Our pediatric specialists are involved in leading-edge research at one of the nation’s top medical schools, Miller School of Medicine. Your child has access to innovative treatments and procedures that aren’t as readily available at other facilities. Our team uses the latest technologies and research findings to give your child personalized care.
Affiliated with one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals. Our affiliate, Holtz Children’s Hospital, is one of the largest children’s hospitals in the southeastern United States. The hospital is ranked among the nation’s Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report in diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, and nephrology.
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