What do infectiologists/infectious disease specialists do?

Question

I like studying infection agents and viruses and things like that (im a sophomore in HS), and I'm just researching different areas of medicine I like, but there is no wikipedia article on these guys :)

I spelled in wrong in my other question, apparently wrong enough to not be recognizable, so I did another question.

Answer 1

Actually, any disease that is TRANSMITTABLE, which covers communicable diseases and diseases that can be transmitted other than communicating with another person. Infectious disease physicians do not appear in Wikipedia because they are believed as "non-existent" doctors, having no special place in the society (like me, who is going for infectious disease as a specialty).

Infectious disease doctors specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases involving the pathogenesis of bacterial infection, fungal infection, viral infection, and parasitic infection--these cover pretty much the whole 9 yards of infectious agents. And these infectious organisms are organisms that actually do cause a disease; some are opportunistic and some are just part of the normal flora of a person or an animal (you may have discussed this in your general biology class).

This, as well as other specialties, is a rich field, since infectious diseases change all the time, with new emerging pathogens capable of causing diseases that may or may not be as deadly as previous ones. And as scientists, infectious disease doctors need to be adept of the current information on this area. While excelling in the differential diagnosis of a patient, infectious disease doctors do have the knowledge as well of general medicine and surgical procedures, since these are part of the treatment of infectious diseases as well.

Getting involveed in this area is much like exposing yourself and educating yourself with microbes, so it would be great exploring college course elective such as medical microbiology, virology, parasitology, and mycology. A great deal of knowledge is poured in these areas, not to mention the pathogens and their pathogenesis, so it is a rewarding field if knowledge is what you seek.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Infectious Disease Doctor Wiki

Answer 3

We call them Infectious Disease Specialists. Thier area of expertise is any disese that is communicable. Unlike heart disease or diabetes...which is not 'caught'. They know illnesses which are transmitted....communicble....usually by bacteria,viruses, or fungus.