What is another name for "varicella"?

Another name for “varicella” is chickenpox. Varicella is the medical term for the familiar contagious illness that causes an itchy, blistering rash, especially in children.

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a member of the herpesvirus family. After the initial infection clears, the virus can remain dormant in nerve cells. If it reactivates years later, it causes shingles, also called herpes zoster. Thus, chickenpox and shingles are different illnesses caused by the same virus at different stages.

The rash commonly begins on the chest, back, or face before spreading. Symptoms usually appear 10–21 days after exposure, and people can spread the virus shortly before the rash appears and until the blisters crust over. Adults, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems can face more serious complications than healthy children.

A common mix-up is confusing varicella with smallpox or shingles. Varicella means chickenpox; herpes zoster means shingles. Vaccination has made chickenpox far less common in countries with routine immunization programs.