Varicella Zoster Virus: Causes, Complications, and What You Need to Know

When you get chickenpox as a kid, the varicella zoster virus, a highly contagious herpesvirus that causes both chickenpox and shingles. Also known as human herpesvirus 3, it doesn’t disappear after the rash clears—it hides in your nerve cells for life. That’s why adults who had chickenpox can later develop shingles, a painful, blistering rash caused by the virus reactivating. It’s not a new infection. It’s your own virus coming back, often when your immune system is stressed, tired, or aging.

Shingles isn’t just a rash. It can lead to postherpetic neuralgia, long-lasting nerve pain that lasts months or even years after the skin heals. About 1 in 5 people who get shingles deal with this. Older adults, especially over 60, are at higher risk. The virus can also affect your eyes, ears, or brain if it travels along the wrong nerve pathways—leading to vision loss, hearing problems, or facial paralysis. That’s why early treatment matters. Antivirals like acyclovir or valacyclovir can reduce severity if taken within 72 hours of the first sign.

Most people don’t realize the varicella zoster virus is the same one that gave them chickenpox. You can’t catch shingles from someone else, but if you’ve never had chickenpox or the vaccine, you can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles. The vaccine, Shingrix, is now the gold standard for prevention—it’s over 90% effective at stopping shingles and its complications, even in older adults. It’s not just for seniors; anyone over 50 should get it, even if they’ve had shingles before.

What you’ll find below are real, practical guides on how this virus impacts daily life, what treatments actually work, how to manage pain, and what alternatives exist when standard meds don’t help. From drug comparisons to long-term symptom management, these posts give you clear, no-fluff answers—not theory, not guesses. You’re not alone if you’re dealing with this. Let’s get you the facts you need.