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Infectious Disease Treatment

At St. Jude, we're changing the way the world treats and defeats pediatric infectious diseases and infections.

The Infectious Disease Program started when St. Jude opened its doors to patients in 1962. We specialize in managing infection in:

Growing up, I thought every city had a St. Jude. How blessed am I to have been born in Memphis — in the epicenter of research for children with HIV/AIDS?

Sharmain, St. Jude HIV patient

A focus on HIV

In 1987, St. Jude founder Danny Thomas declared AIDS a catastrophic disease of children. Soon after, the hospital made HIV/AIDS a research priority, and created the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trial Unit (PACTU).

Today, more than 250 patients are part PACTU. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has designated it a "Center of Excellence."

Elaine

For a teenager or young adult, the words “HIV positive” can profoundly affect relationships with friends and family. Voices of HIV enables patients to share their deepest, most profound feelings in a venue that protects their identity.

Explore Voices of HIV

Elaine

St. Jude accepts most children and young adults up to 22 years of age with HIV based on eligibility for an HIV clinical trial. These trials are available regardless of a child’s or family’s race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality or ability to pay.

Seek Treatment

 
miguela

Infectious diseases claim 12 million child lives each year. In response, the St. Jude Department of Infectious Diseases is aggressively pursuing projects aimed at curing or preventing leading infectious causes of death worldwide.

Global solutions for infectious diseases

 
hospital-infectious

Read stories about St. Jude patients who have been treated at St. Jude for respiratory diseases, HIV/AIDS and other serious infectious diseases of childhood. 

Patient Stories

 
 

Resources to prevent infection

When your child is sick, his or her immune system may be compromised. This means it may not be able to respond to infection the way it is supposed to. Here are some resources to help you keep your child from getting infections.

 

Clinical Trials for HIV and Infectious Diseases

As a research hospital, St. Jude doctors have access to the most up-to-date therapies and can deliver treatments designed specifically for each patient. 

Refer an HIV or Infectious Disease Patient

 
 
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