Shingles and Chickenpox Viruses: They Are One and the Same

The shingles and chickenpox viruses are the same thing. Both shingles (which is also called herpes zoster and St. Anthony’s fire) and chickenpox are caused by the varicella_zoster virus. However, although the virus is the same, the two conditions are very different. Shingles can only occur in people who have been exposed to chickenpox before. With herpes zoster, the virus is already in the system and becomes reactivated, causing skin rash and skin pain. St. Anthony’s fire is characterized by blisters that form a concentrated rash on one part of the body.

In contrast, chickenpox, although also caused by the same virus, is quite different. One gets chickenpox by catching the varicella_zoster from someone else. Chickenpox affects almost the entire skin area with a rash. However, the pain of shingles is much worse in many cases than the itch and discomfort of chickenpox. Also, herpes zoster tends to affect the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Chickenpox is considered more of a childhood disease, and can be easily caught by anyone who has not been exposed to the varicella_zoster virus before. However, with both shingles and chickenpox, complications may occur. If you think that you may have been exposed to the varicella_zoster virus, do seek medical attention and help.

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