What does Infectious Disease treat? Scope, related specialties and specialist registration
Infectious Disease (Medical Council specialty code S35) is a specialty of adult internal medicine covering the prevention, investigation, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, and related public health issues (Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Specialty Descriptions, April 2025). Clinical Microbiology and Infection (S45), a pathology specialty, studies the relationship between people and pathogens in order to identify, control and prevent infection; infections in children belong to a separate specialty, Paediatric Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (S56).
What does an infectious disease specialist treat?
Infectious Disease is a specialty of adult internal medicine covering the prevention, investigation, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases and related public health matters; Clinical Microbiology and Infection belongs to pathology and studies the relationship between people and pathogens in order to identify, control and prevent infection; Paediatric Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases is a branch of paediatrics (Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Specialty Descriptions, April 2025). On the Medical Council's register, the three are different specialties.
Which specialty follows up a particular problem is decided by the treating doctor according to the condition.
| Specialty (Medical Council specialty code) | College | Scope | Chinese name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infectious Disease (S35) | Hong Kong College of Physicians | A specialty of adult internal medicine; prevention, investigation, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, and related public health issues | 感染及傳染病科 |
| Clinical Microbiology and Infection (S45) | Hong Kong College of Pathologists | A pathology specialty; studies the relationship between people and pathogens in order to identify, control and prevent infection | 臨床微生物及感染學 |
| Paediatric Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (S56) | Hong Kong College of Paediatricians | A branch of paediatrics; immune system disorders, allergies and infections in children | 兒童免疫、過敏及傳染病科 |
How do I check whether a doctor is a specialist in Infectious Disease?
On the Medical Council of Hong Kong website, the Specialist Register can be opened by specialty to show its list of doctors; a search by name shows the specialty and specialist registration number in the specialist registration field of the doctor's record. For the steps, see how to check a doctor's registration and specialty.
Doctors can present themselves as specialists only if they are on the Specialist Register, and can use only the title of the specialty in which they are registered (Medical Council, Code of Professional Conduct for the Guidance of Registered Medical Practitioners, section 7, October 2022 revised edition).
For the name and code, see Infectious Disease: English name and code; for other specialties, see the Chinese–English list of medical specialty names.
How do I get a referral to public infectious disease services? Can I book a private infectious disease specialist directly?
To book a new-case appointment at a Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinic, you need a referral letter issued within the past three months by a locally registered doctor; one from a private doctor is also accepted. Compiled by this site: for a private specialist, you can ask the hospital or clinic directly how to book; if you use medical insurance, whether a referral letter or pre-approval is needed depends on the policy terms, and you can ask the insurer first.
For the steps to book a public specialist outpatient clinic, see how to book a public specialist outpatient clinic; for what to prepare before seeing a specialist, see what to prepare before seeing a specialist.
Frequently asked questions
Should I go straight to an infectious disease specialist for an ordinary fever?
Primary healthcare is the first point of contact for individuals and families in a continuing healthcare process, and family doctors are the main providers of primary healthcare (Health Bureau, December 2022); the Primary Healthcare Commission is promoting, through District Health Centres, a community-based primary healthcare model with family doctors at its core (Government discussion paper to the Legislative Council, March 2026). On choosing a family doctor, see how to choose a family doctor. In an emergency, go to Accident & Emergency.
Is the ‘infection’ specialty the same as Infectious Disease?
Compiled by Book a Doctor: what people commonly call the ‘infection’ specialty (感染科) corresponds to Infectious Disease (S35) on the Medical Council's Specialist Register.