A pediatric infectious disease opinion, one referral away.
Pediatricians, neonatologists and intensivists send a case. A pediatric ID specialist replies with expert advice you can act on.
IDline is not an emergency service. A child with acute instability (for example shock, respiratory distress, seizures or altered sensorium) needs immediate in-person care and stabilisation. IDline advice can take time, and should be read in the context of the clinical scenario and the limitations of an online consultation.
What we advise on
Questions where a specialist opinion changes what you do next.
Antimicrobial choice and duration
Selecting, narrowing and stopping antibiotics and antifungals, including culture-guided changes.
Prolonged and unexplained fever
A structured work-up for fever without a focus and fever of unknown origin.
Tuberculosis and HIV
TB diagnosis, drug-resistant disease and regimens; HIV-exposed infants, antiretroviral therapy and opportunistic infections.
Congenital and neonatal infections
Evaluation and treatment of the exposed or infected newborn.
Infections in immunocompromised children
Oncology, transplant, primary immunodeficiency and steroid-treated patients.
Drug-resistant and hospital-acquired infections
Multidrug-resistant organisms and device-associated infections in the PICU and NICU.
How it works
Send the case
Fill in the referral form with your question, a summary and the reports. Send de-identified information only: no name, address or hospital number.
We review
The specialist reads everything you sent and comes back to you if something essential is missing.
Expert advice
You receive the specialist's advice by email within [TURNAROUND TIME], with a Google Meet video call if you ask for one.
You stay in charge
You remain the treating doctor and make the decisions. You can ask for one follow-up on the same case within [FOLLOW-UP WINDOW].
What to send
The question you want answered, and a short clinical summary.
Clinical
- Age and weight
- Clinical presentation
- Current management, including antimicrobials given so far with doses and dates
Laboratory
- Culture and sensitivity reports
- Blood counts, inflammatory markers and other relevant labs
Imaging
- Imaging reports
The specialist
- MD Pediatrics (PGIMER)
- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases (CMC Vellore)
- Fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Transplant Infections (SickKids, Toronto)
Hours and response time
We will give notice here before any fee is introduced.
Weekends and public holidays are not counted.
Refer a case
For registered medical practitioners.
De-identified information only. Do not include the child's name, address or hospital number, and mask them on any report you attach.
Parents and families: please ask your child's doctor to refer.
Referral received
Thank you. Your case reference is IDL-. Please note it down and quote it in any follow-up.
We will reply by email within [TURNAROUND TIME]. If the child deteriorates in the meantime, do not wait for our reply.