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How Are Shingles & Chicken Pox Alike?

Chicken pox and shingles share the same cause, the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Additionally, the two conditions cause similar symptoms and can be treated with the same group of antiviral medications.

  1. Identification

    • The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes chicken pox upon initial infection and then shingles later in life. VZV is part of the herpes virus family and is in the same viral subfamily as the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes, according to Microbiology and Immunology Online.

    Features

    • After chicken pox symptoms clear up, VZV goes dormant in some of the body's nerve cells, never fully going away. This is why it can flare up later, causing shingles.

    Symptoms

    • Both conditions lead to rashes and discomfort. The rash of chicken pox is itchy and sometimes painful, while the rash of shingles is more painful. Shingles rash is also limited to one side of the body, while chicken pox rash is spread over the body.

    Treatment

    • Treatment for shingles commonly involves the use of antiviral drugs, including acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir. According to the Mayo Clinic, acyclovir is also sometimes used in the treatment of chicken pox, and the other two drugs can be used to treat chicken pox in adults.

    Types

    • In addition to chicken pox and shingles, VZV can also cause a condition known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which causes more severe shingles-like symptoms on the face.

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