Pamela Palasanthiran is a Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist based in Sydney, NSW, Australia. She works with babies, kids, and families when an infection is more complex than a simple cold or tummy bug. In paediatrics, small changes can matter, so care often needs to be careful, quick, and well coordinated.
Her work focuses on serious infections that can affect the brain, lungs, joints, and overall health. This can include conditions like meningitis, encephalitis, and sepsis. At times, infections can also show up as bone or joint problems, such as infectious arthritis or osteomyelitis in children. She also looks after children with bacterial infections like bacterial meningitis, and some less common ones such as nocardiosis, including pulmonary nocardiosis.
Some cases involve viruses too. Pamela supports children who have infections like flu, parainfluenza, and measles. She also provides specialist input when infections are linked to long-term effects on the nervous system, including subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. For children with ongoing symptoms, having an infectious disease view can help make sense of what’s happening and what should be checked next.
A big part of this role is looking at the knock-on effects infections can cause. Hearing problems are one example. Pamela is involved in care where there is concern about infant hearing loss and hearing loss, including cases linked with congenital cytomegalovirus and other cytomegalovirus infections. She also works with children with cytomegalic inclusion disease, where infection can affect development and health in more than one way.
She also deals with infections involving the lymph nodes and the airway. This can include things like lymphadenitis and other infections where doctors need help confirming the cause and planning treatment. In some cases, especially where tuberculosis is suspected, care may include tuberculous meningitis.
Pamela’s approach is practical and grounded. Over time, families often need clear explanations, steady follow-up, and a plan that fits what’s going on at home as well as in hospital. Being a paediatric infectious disease specialist means she’s used to balancing fast treatment with careful monitoring, so children get the right care as their condition changes.
