Health Professionals
CDC offers a number of services for health professionals.
Clinical Management Advice for Confirmed or Suspected Cases of Parasitic Diseases
Subject matter experts from the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria are available on a 24 hour, 7 day-a-week basis to assist health professionals with diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases that are potentially life threatening.
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 subject matter expert.
| Hotline | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Parasitic Diseases Hotline (M-F; 8am-4:30pm EST) | 404-718-4745 |
| Emergency, after-hours hotline | 770-488-7100 |
For malaria cases, health professionals 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.
| Hotline | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Malaria Hotline (M-F; 8am-4:30pm EST) | 770-488-7788 or 855-856-4713 toll free |
| 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 health professionals in evaluating a returned traveler who is ill can also be found in the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria 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. This site also contains parasite-specific information that may 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):
Information on Specific Parasites
Health care providers who wish to obtain more information on a particular parasite can consult the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria A-Z Index of Parasitic Diseases.
Accredited Continuing Medical Education (CME)
Courses are designed to educate clinicians about parasitic disease in the United States.
These courses will present an opportunity to think critically about diagnosis and treatment of less common parasitic diseases.
Course lessons will cover:
- basic epidemiology
- disease manifestations
- laboratory diagnosis
- clinical evaluation
- treatment options
- patient scenarios
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333 -
1-800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
New Hours of Operation
8am-8pm EST/Monday-Friday
Closed Holidays - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
- Health care professionals:
- 1-404-718-4745 (M-F 7:30am-4pm EST)
- After-hours emergencies: 1-770-488-7100
- parasites@cdc.gov
