Parasites Home > Health Care Providers
Health Care Providers
CDC offers a number of services for health care providers.
Clinical Management Advice for Confirmed or Suspected Cases of Parasitic Diseases
Clinicians from the Division of Parasitic Diseases are available on a 24 hour, 7 day-a-week basis to assist health care providers with diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases.
Health care providers in need of assistance with diagnosis or management of cases other than malaria should call one of the CDC Parasitic Diseases Hotlines below and request to speak with a CDC Parasitic Diseases Branch clinician.
Hotlines for Parasitic Disease Cases (not including Malaria) |
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| Parasitic Diseases Hotline (M-F; 8am-4:30pm EST) | 770.488.7775 |
| Emergency, after-hours hotline | 770.488.7100 |
For malaria cases, health care providers should call one of the following CDC Malaria Hotlines and request to speak with a CDC Malaria Branch clinician. Guidance for diagnosis and treatment of malaria is also available at CDC's Malaria Web site.
Hotlines for Malaria |
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| Malaria Hotline (M-F; 8am-4:30pm EST) | 770.488.7788 |
| Emergency, after-hours hotline | 770.488.7100 |
Pre- and Post-travel Evaluation
Information on pre-travel general advice, including parasitic diseases, can be found on CDC's Travelers' Health Web site and can be used to assist international travelers to prepare for their trip. Disease-specific information that can assist providers in evaluating a returned traveler who is ill can also be found in our the Division of Parasitic Diseases' A-Z Index of Parasitic Diseases.
Parasitic Disease Diagnosis
DPDx: Laboratory Identification of Parasites of Public Health Concern provides information to laboratorians on the identification and diagnosis of parasites and contains parasite-specific information that may also prove useful for clinicians.
Drugs for Parasitic Diseases
Some drugs used to treat parasitic diseases are not marketed in the United States since their demand in this country is so limited that commercial licensure is not practical or profitable for pharmaceutical companies. Investigational new drug (IND) status, under treatment INDs, is maintained by CDC to ensure that these products are available in the United States if needed.
The following anti-parasitic drugs can be obtained from CDC's Drug Service (CDC Drug Service, Scientific Resources Program, telephone 404.639.3670):
- Artesunate
- Bithionol
- Dehydroemetine
- Diethylcarbamazine (DEC)
- Melarsoprol
- Nifurtimox
- Pentostam
- Suramin
Information on Specific Parasites
Health care providers who wish to obtain more information on a particular parasite can consult the Division of Parasitic Diseases' A-Z Index of Parasitic Diseases.
Related Health Care Provider Links
State and Local Health Departments
Nationally Notifiable Infectious Diseases
Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet)
Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report