Missouri Health Department advises Missourians to be aware of shingles
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Missouri Health Department advises Missourians to be aware of shingles

Date: September 19, 2006
By: Carolyn Tseng
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: Missouri's Health Department is offering advice to those with the same medical problem that led to the resignation of state's Higher Education commissioner.

Shingles is the reported ailment that led to the resignation of Charles McClain.

 If you've had chickenpox and are developing a painful or itchy skin rash, you might want to have it checked out soon. That rash may be a symptom of shingles, a disease caused by the chickenpox virus.

Missouri Health Department spokesperson Eddie Hedrick says that shingles can be identified by the rash pattern.

Actuality:  SHINGLES.WAV
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Antiviral medication is available to shorten the infection period, but it doesn't kill the virus.

Shingles arises when the dormant chickenpox virus re-emerges.

Intro: The ailment that drove Missouri's Higher Education commissioner into resignation is not limited to the elderly.

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OutCue: SOC

Many times, shingles is just a skin rash and blisters that go away after a few weeks. 

Shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus that lies inactive at a person's nerve endings.

The virus may be reactivated years later when a person's immune system is weakened.  

Missouri Health Department spokesperson Eddie Hedrick says that shingles may affect young people as well. 

Actuality:  SHNGLES1.WAV
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Description: 

Unlike chickenpox, shingles' rash and blisters are often found on one side of the body only.

Intro: Missouri's Health Department urges Missourians to be mindful of the symptoms of shingles, as the disease has recently caused a MOHELA college loan board member to resign.

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OutCue: SOC

A person who's had chickenpox can develop shingles, since the chickenpox virus lies dormant in the nerve endings and can be reactivated later by one's weakened immune system.

Missouri Health Department spokesperson Eddie Hedrick says that shingles is not life-threatening, but its rash and blisters may be extremely painful.  

Actuality:  SHNGLES2.WAV
Run Time: 00:14
Description: 

The signs of shingles include a tingling feeling on the skin, itchy and painful rash, and small blisters.