Weill Cornell Physicians

Pediatric Infectious Diseases

The Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases & Immunology at the Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Children's Health is committed to providing comprehensive and specialized medical care to infants, children, and adolescents with acute and chronic infectious diseases. Our healthcare delivery system integrates basic pediatric care services with state-of-the-art treatment practices, used to evaluate and treat children with acquired or congenital disorders of the immune system.

OUR SERVICES

Services of the Division include primary and consultative care for infants and children with illnesses known or suspected to be caused by infections with viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites, in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, as required. Diagnosis and therapy are provided for infections in all major organ systems, including the brain and spinal cord, bloodstream, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, pancreas, intestines, kidneys and bladder, skin, joints, and bones, as well as infections that involve multiple body systems. Patients with unusual or severe infections and patients who have infections related to abnormal or weakened immune systems, including AIDS, are also cared for by our Infectious Disease subspecialists (see more on AIDS below). Advice is provided to children and families who have travel plans. Problems regarding immunizations or management of antibiotic treatment are addressed.

OUR EXPERTISE

Members of the division have expertise in the following areas:

*Asplenia associated infections
*Atypical mycobacterial diseases (scrofula)
*Congenital Infections
*Ear infection (otitis media)
*Fever
*Hepatitis
*HIV infection and AIDS
*Infections in immunocompromised children
*Infectious mononucleosis and other EBV infections
*Kawasaki Disease
*Lyme Disease
*Meningitis
*Recurrent Infections
*Respiratory infections (including influenza)
*Sepsis in the newborn infant
*Sinusitis
*Travel medicine and parasites
*Tuberculosis
*Vaccines
*Viral infections

PEDIATRIC AIDS PROGRAM

The Center for Special Studies in Pediatric HIV Disease is a comprehensive care center for children and adolescents with AIDS and one of the first funded by the National Institute on Child Health and Human Development to participate in multi-centered clinical trials. The Pediatric AIDS program multidisciplinary care team provides comprehensive primary and specialized care to 10% of New York City's pediatric/adolescent HIV/AIDS population. Care is provided by a case management team, which includes a primary care provider, advanced practice nursing professionals, and social work services. The program is child-centered and family-oriented.

The services offered are for a pediatric population with HIV infection or exposure include

general pediatric and well child care;
HIV counseling and testing for children and adolescents and their families;
psychiatric and developmental services and referrals;
inpatient pediatric services; clinical research trials;
pain management and palliative services and referrals;
health education, caregiver support groups, referrals and advocacy for children and families.

In Spring 2002, with the opening of the Betty and Norman F. Levy Family Center at the Komansky Center, services for children and families with AIDS expanded to include obstetrics and gynecology, pediatric nutrition counseling, and dental services to the existing program.

Free Confidential HIV Testing for Youth 13-24

As a Ryan White Title IV Youth Outreach grantee, the Program for Children and Adolescents with AIDS offers free confidential HIV testing to individuals 13-24. The initial antibody test is performed using OraSure, a painless oral test. New York State Law states that people under 18 who are able to understand what is involved in HIV testing do not need parental consent to be tested.

Please call 212 746-3375 to schedule an appointment or if your organization would like to provide HIV counseling and testing through us.