Definition

1. Noun:
   • A viral infection: herpes zoster is a disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (the same virus that causes chickenpox). It is characterized by a painful rash with blisters, typically appearing in a band or strip on one side of the body.

Usage

• is a medical term. It is used in formal, clinical, and scientific contexts.
• The term is often shortened to zoster in medical literature.
• In everyday language, this condition is commonly called shingles.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient was diagnosed with herpes zoster after the distinctive rash appeared on his torso.
  • Older adults are often vaccinated to prevent herpes zoster.
  • The severe pain associated with herpes zoster is called postherpetic neuralgia.

Advanced Usage

• "Herpes zoster ophthalmicus": A serious form of the infection that affects the eye and can threaten vision.
  • The doctor was concerned about potential herpes zoster ophthalmicus when the rash appeared near the patient's eye.
• "Herpes zoster virus": Another term for the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), highlighting its role in causing the disease.
  • The herpes zoster virus remains dormant in nerve cells after a person recovers from chickenpox.

Variants and Related Words

• Zoster (n): The shortened medical term for herpes zoster.
  • The study focused on pain management in zoster patients.
• Shingles (n): The common, non-medical term for the disease.
  • My grandfather had a bad case of shingles last year.
• Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) (n): The specific virus that causes both chickenpox (varicella) and herpes zoster (shingles).
  • The varicella-zoster virus is a member of the herpesvirus family.

Synonyms

• Shingles: The most common synonym in general use.
• Zona: An older or less common medical term.

Related Medical Terms

• Postherpetic neuralgia (n): Persistent nerve pain that can continue after the shingles rash has healed.
  • A common complication of herpes zoster is postherpetic neuralgia.
• Varicella (n): The medical term for chickenpox, the primary infection caused by the VZV.
  • After having varicella as a child, the virus can reactivate later in life as herpes zoster.

Noun

1. a herpes virus that causes shingles
2. eruptions along a nerve path often accompanied by severe neuralgia