Dr. Rishi Chadha, MD is a board‑certified gastroenterologist who specializes in preventive gastroenterology, colorectal cancer screening, and minimally invasive endoscopic procedures. He completed his fellowship at Sunrise Health GME in Las Vegas and previously trained in internal medicine at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Connecticut.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus from the herpes family. Many healthy people can have CMV without any symptoms or knowing they were infected.
However, CMV can cause serious illness in people with weak immune systems, such as transplant recipients, individuals with HIV, or those undergoing chemotherapy.
At GastroDoxs in Houston, Dr. Rishi Chadha provides expert diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment for CMV infection to protect your long-term health.
He reviews your full medical history, assesses risk factors (e.g., immunosuppression, pregnancy), and performs a thorough physical exam.
He orders CMV AB IgM and CMV IgG antibody assays to distinguish an active infection from past exposure and gauge immune response.
For suspected GI involvement, he performs endoscopic evaluation with targeted biopsy to confirm CMV colitis or other organ-specific disease.
Dr. Rishi Chadha, MD is a board‑certified gastroenterologist who specializes in preventive gastroenterology, colorectal cancer screening, and minimally invasive endoscopic procedures. He completed his fellowship at Sunrise Health GME in Las Vegas and previously trained in internal medicine at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Connecticut.
CMV infection occurs when the virus enters your body and multiplies. Many people never notice symptoms, but it can cause illness in those with weakened immunity.
A positive CMV IgM test or a significant rise in CMV IgG antibody levels typically indicates a current or recent infection.
Yes. Blood tests measuring CMV IgM and IgG antibodies can confirm whether you have an active infection or past exposure.
Many cases are mild or asymptomatic. When present, symptoms include fever, fatigue, sore throat, swollen glands, and sometimes abdominal pain or diarrhea if the GI tract is involved.
IgG positive indicates past exposure to CMV. It means you have developed antibodies and may have lasting immunity, although the virus can remain dormant.
In most healthy adults, CMV causes mild illness. It can be serious for newborns, transplant recipients, and people with compromised immune systems.
Treatment typically involves antiviral medications such as ganciclovir or valganciclovir, along with supportive care like hydration and rest.
Yes. CMV stays in your body in a latent state and can reactivate if your immune system weakens.
Treatment duration varies by patient. Most require 2�6 weeks of antivirals; transplant patients may need longer preventive therapy with agents like letermovir.
For detailed information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/cmv/index.html
