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Mercy internist Dr. Jonathan Rich

Mercy Internist Dr. Jonathan Rich Discusses Identifying And Treating Shingles

While most people expect to get chicken pox as children, doctors say there are things to watch out for when you're older so you know if the virus comes back in the form of shingles.

Shingles is the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus remains in the nerves and spinal cord, but it doesn't always stay there.

"Your immune system does a pretty good job of keeping it in check, that's why you don't usually see it again. But if you have something that happens to your immune system -- you become sick, you're on certain medications -- it may suppress your immune system. Stress will also do it. It may reactivate this virus, and it comes out in a rash," said Mercy internist Dr. Jonathan Rich.

According to Dr. Rich, when the shingles virus becomes active, it travels in dermatomes, which are nerve endings in the skin that are connected to the spine, making the rash appear in strips or bands.

"It may be more than one nerve route, but typically it's going to follow a pattern, (which is) why it bands around the body. Sometimes it comes on the arm or on the leg, but it will follow a specific dermatome. That's how we diagnose it," Dr. Rich said.

The symptoms of shingles include itching, a red rash, blisters filled with fluid and pain.

Dr. Rich also noted that the sooner people get treatment for shingles the better. Medications can shorten the course of the virus and the shingles vaccine can help reduce the risk, but only people ages 60 and older can get it.

"That's the age group that we most commonly see shingles come out -- after the age of 60 -- although you will see it in younger people," Dr. Rich said.

Those thinking of getting the shingles vaccine should first check with their insurance.

To view Dr. Rich’s interview with WBAL-TV11 online, click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/29925196/detail.html