Chickenpox is a common disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV),
which is part of the herpesvirus family. Although many people associate the word
herpes with genital herpes, the herpesvirus family is made up of nearly 100
kinds of viruses, eight of which cause disease in humans. Examples of different
herpesviruses are herpes simplex virus (which causes cold sores and genital
herpes infections), Epstein-Barr virus (which causes infectious mononucleosis),
and varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox and shingles).
Varicella-zoster virus spreads in the air through coughs or sneezes or
through contact with fluid from inside the chickenpox blisters.
Chickenpox, which occurs most often in the late winter and early spring,
is very contagious - if exposed to an infected family member, about 80% to 90%
of those in a household who haven't had chickenpox will get it. However,
immunization of children with the chickenpox vaccine that's now available is
expected to decrease cases of the disease dramatically over the next few years.
Although it's more common in kids under the age of 15, anyone can get
chickenpox. A person usually has only one episode of
chickenpox in his or her lifetime. But the virus that causes
chickenpox can lie dormant within the body and can cause a different type of
skin eruption later in life called shingles, also referred to as herpes-zoster.
|