What Is a Zoster Virus?
A zoster virus is a member of the Herpesviridae family. Varicella zoster is a form which can cause chickenpox, and it can also remain latent in the body, causing herpes zoster, a painful condition which is also known as shingles. While the zoster virus is a member of the herpes family, it is not the same thing as genital herpes, and it is not transmitted through sexual contact. In children, infection with varicells zoster leads to the development of chickenpox, a condition which eventually clears on its own, but the virus remains in the nervous system. In some cases, the virus can awaken from its dormant state and cause problems with the nervous system, characterized by painful skin outbreaks. Herpes zoster can appear over and over again, and it can have some very serious complications, including neuropathy. There is no way to predict when a herpes zoster outbreak will occur in someone who harbors the zoster virus. Depression of the immune system appears to make outbreaks more common,
A zoster virus is a member of the Herpesviridae family. Varicella zoster is a form which can cause chickenpox, and it can also remain latent in the body, causing herpes zoster, a painful condition which is also known as shingles. While the zoster virus is a member of the herpes family, it is not the same thing as genital herpes, and it is not transmitted through sexual contact. In children, infection with varicells zoster leads to the development of chickenpox, a condition which eventually clears on its own, but the virus remains in the nervous system. In some cases, the virus can awaken from its dormant state and cause problems with the nervous system, characterized by painful skin outbreaks. Herpes zoster can appear over and over again, and it can have some very serious complications, including neuropathy.
