USA Today
by Bruce Horovitz

For most people, the first stage of shingles begins as a slightly painful rash with tiny, clear blisters around the chest or belly. This is when early detection and quick action — seeing a doctor and getting on antiviral drugs and oral corticosteroids — may save days of pain and discomfort. Any suspicious rash on the face should be treated as soon as possible because of the risk of shingles attacking the eye or ear, advises Priya Sampathkumar, an infectious-disease expert and associate professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic…Shingles is caused by the herpes zoster virus (no relation to genital herpes). After a bout of chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in your body for decades and reappears when your immune system is likely less robust. Stress also may play a role in the onset, although that’s not medically proven, Sampathkumar says.

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Context: Priya Sampathkumar, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert.  Mayo Clinic has two divisions that treat infectious diseases. The Division of Infectious Diseases, established in the 1950s, consists of 30 consultants, 10 fellows, eight registered nurses, and seven paramedical staff. The Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases has four pediatric infectious diseases board-certified consultants who work closely with other division colleagues to treat infectious diseases in children and adolescents. You can read about Dr. Sampathkumar's medical research here.

Contact:  Bob Nellis

Tags: Dr. Priya Sampathkumar, Infectious Diseases, shingles, Uncategorized, USA Today