What virus causes shingles?

What virus causes shingles?

• A. Varicella zoster virus
• B. Herpes simplex virus
• C. Human papillomavirus
• D. Cytomegalovirus

Answer: (A)

Shingles arises when the varicella-zoster virus becomes reactivated after a chickenpox infection. After the initial illness, this virus lies dormant in nerve cells near the spinal cord and brain. Later, especially with aging or a weakened immune system, it can reactivate and travel along a sensory nerve to the skin, causing a painful, vesicular rash that follows a dermatomal pattern. This reactivation is what characterizes herpes zoster. The other viruses listed cause different diseases: herpes simplex virus leads to oral or genital herpes; human papillomavirus causes warts and related cancers; cytomegalovirus can cause mononucleosis-like illness or congenital infections. They do not cause the shingles rash.

Shingles arises when the varicella-zoster virus becomes reactivated after a chickenpox infection. After the initial illness, this virus lies dormant in nerve cells near the spinal cord and brain. Later, especially with aging or a weakened immune system, it can reactivate and travel along a sensory nerve to the skin, causing a painful, vesicular rash that follows a dermatomal pattern. This reactivation is what characterizes herpes zoster.

The other viruses listed cause different diseases: herpes simplex virus leads to oral or genital herpes; human papillomavirus causes warts and related cancers; cytomegalovirus can cause mononucleosis-like illness or congenital infections. They do not cause the shingles rash.