15 Known Causes of Varicella Zoster

Varicella-zoster is a virus that causes chickenpox. Once chickenpox is exposed to the body, the virus goes through the tissues in the nerves that are near your brain and spinal cord. While it’s near your brain and spinal cord, it will sit there. In certain cases, the virus will move and travel to other parts of the body, such as the nerve fibers of your skin, which can cause shingles. Shingles are rare in children, but common in adults. 

Most adults are referred by their doctor to get a shingles vaccination. When it comes to varicella zoster, it may not appear until many years later. Varicella zoster is contagious, so it’s important to not be around others who you know have the virus. When children have chickenpox, parents will allow their child to play around other infected children. Their child will become exposed to it. 

Here are eight known causes of varicella zoster.

1. Chickenpox is a known Cause of Varicella Zoster. 

Every person will get the illness. It involves red bumps and itchiness of the skin. It is important to not scratch the area. Place calamine lotion on the spots to reduce the itching. Chickenpox is highly contagious and it’s important to not be around others who have not had the illness. It has been reported that some people experience the chickenpox twice in their lives.

Today, there is a chickenpox vaccine that will prevent children from getting the illness. Once the chickenpox enters the body, the person can end up with varicella-zoster. It hides out near the spinal cord and brain for a while before it decides to move elsewhere.

Your risk of getting varicella zoster increases if you have never had the chickenpox or the vaccine. Some people don’t get the chickenpox until later in life, such as in their teen years.