Bacteria, viruses or fungi that spread through the bloodstream cause bloodstream infections. Some blood infections are fairly harmless while others are life-threatening. Germs that cause these infections may come from outside the body or from inside the body where they normally live.
Bloodstream infections can be serious for any child, but the risk of worse outcomes is greater in children with:
There are many types of bloodstream infections including:
The symptoms of bloodstream infection include:
Pediatric infectious disease specialists at Riley at IU Health use the following tests to diagnose bloodstream infections:
If your child has a blood infection, intravenous (IV) antibiotics that fight against a wide range of germs are the first course of treatment. Once blood cultures identify a specific disease-causing germ, your child receives more targeted antibiotics.
The duration of treatment depends on the type of bacteria found in the blood and the overall health of the child. Your child's pediatric infectious disease specialist will decide if your child should receive treatment in the hospital or at home. Your child should take all medicines as directed and have follow-up visits with the doctor
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.
Sort through 3 facilities offering Bloodstream Infection care by entering your city or zip below.
