Children who have weakened immune systems are often at higher risk for acquiring infections than other children. These infections may also be more serious or caused by less common germs than infections that affect children with typical immune systems. The Immunocompromised Infectious Diseases Program at Riley Hospital for Children provides expert guidance to help diagnose, treat, and prevent infections in children with weakened immune systems.
Reasons that may weaken a child’s immune system include:
- Cancer
- Stem cell transplantation
- Organ transplantation
- Asplenia
- Primary immunodeficiency disease
- Medications that weaken the immune system, such as biologic response modifiers or chemotherapy, to treat other medical conditions (for example, juvenile idiopathic arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease)
The Immunocompromised Infectious Diseases Team has extensive training and experience in the care of children with weakened immune systems. Our team of physicians, advanced practice providers, and pharmacists stays at the forefront of diagnosis and treatment options for infections in immunocompromised children. We work hand-in-hand with your child’s primary medical team to ensure that your child receives the most appropriate treatment based on your child’s infection. We also provide personalized guidance on ways to help prevent infection based on your child’s specific needs, including:
- Education about avoiding exposures
- Using preventive medicines
- Receiving specialized vaccines
If your child will be receiving an organ transplant for a chronic medical condition, we provide comprehensive guidance on ways to help prevent infection before the transplant surgery happens.
We provide both inpatient care and longitudinal outpatient care for immunocompromised children at Riley.
Conditions & Services
Conditions Treated
Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.
Doctors and
Locations
Doctors
4.9 out of 5 stars
(34 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyPediatric Infectious Disease
317.944.7260
Locations
Locations
In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.
Related Departments
Related Departments
We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related departments.
Health Professionals
For Health Professionals
We work with referring physicians to provide specialized care to children with infectious diseases. Physicians can reach an infectious disease specialist at 317.944.5000. For consultations or referrals, please call 317.944.7260 or send a fax to 317.948.0860. Physicians may also call the Riley at IU Health 24/7 Transfer Center at 317.963.3333.
Refer A Patient
Riley at IU Health works with referring physicians in Indiana and beyond.
Refer A PatientEducation
The Infectious Diseases Department at Riley at IU Health is committed to educating and training medical students, physician assistants, residents and fellows. The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program at the Indiana University School of Medicine is based at Riley at IU Health. It is a three-year program that prepares fellows for a career as an academic pediatric infectious disease specialist.