What is varicella-zoster virus?

Also known as: VZV, chickenpox (varicella), shingles (herpes zoster).

Varicella-zoster virus is the virus that causes both chickenpox and shingles. Chickenpox can occur upon initial infection with the virus, while shingles tends to occur later in life when the dormant virus that caused chickenpox reactivates.

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Reviewed by: P. Marcelo Laufer, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM