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I Wish I'd Asked My Doctor...Chickenpox, Shingles, and Cold Sores
by Terri L. Pilcher, MSHS, PA-C (Terri's bio)
IMPORTANT!: Please read our legal notice regarding this health column by clicking here.
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"What is the relationship between chickenpox and shingles? Does the virus that causes them also create cold sores?" Lisa W.
You know more than most people about viruses. Chickenpox, shingles, and cold sores come from different viruses, but they share some things in common. Varicella zoster produces chickenpox. Herpes zoster causes shingles. Herpes simplex creates the oral blisters commonly known as cold sores.
The disease called chickenpox occurs when a person, usually a child, becomes infected with Varicella zoster. The rash occurs most commonly on the trunk, but also may occur on the head and extremities. After the rash disappears, the virus remains dormant within the skin at nerve cells. Normally, white blood cells prevent the virus from reactivating. If a person with the waiting virus develops a lowered immune system due to illness, medication, or any other cause, the latent virus, herpes zoster, may develop into shingles.
Unlike chickenpox, shingles only affects the area of the skin its nerve touches, also known as a dermatome. For instance, shingles from a nerve traveling from the spine to the center of the stomach on the left side of the body, results in a rash 3-6 inches wide in that same area. Shingles may flare up in several dermatomes at once. Some authorities suggest that all people previously infected with chickenpox harbor herpes zoster. Statistics show that 50% of adults who live to the age of 85 will develop shingles during their lifetime. The Varicella vaccine may prevent shingles from occurring, since it prevents chickenpox infection, but it will take decades to know for sure.
Cold sores, created by herpes simplex, pass from person to person by kissing and touching. This virus waits in the nerve cells until activated by stress. That's why cold sores always appear before a big date or when you need to make that dynamic business presentation.
These viruses are all related, because they all lie dormant at the nerve roots waiting for another chance to create pain and discomfort.
Have a question for Terri? Click here.
Copyright 2002, Terri L. Pilcher. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
THE CONTENT OF THE "I WISH I'D ASKED MY DOCTOR" COLUMN IS PRESENTED IN SUMMARY FORM, IS GENERAL IN NATURE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE CONTENT IS NOT INTENDED IN ANY WAY TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR FACE-TO-FACE, IN-PERSON, PROFESSIONAL, MEDICAL, PSYCHIATRIC, OR PHARMACEUTICAL HEALTH CARE ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION, HEALTH DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. NEVER DISREGARD MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY IN SEEKING IT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ IN THE "I WISH I'D ASKED MY DOCTOR…" COLUMN. Please read our full legal notice.
| About Terri L. Pilcher: Terri L. Pilcher, MSHS, PA-C is a physician assistant with a Masters of Science in Health Sciences. She has worked in the fields of family practice medicine and occupational health. Her articles have appeared in Physician Assistant and JAAPA. Currently, she stays home with her daughters and writes. Contact her at AskthePA@prodigy.net. |
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