Which statement accurately describes the natural history of varicella-zoster virus?

Which statement accurately describes the natural history of varicella-zoster virus?

• A. Varicella is the cause of chickenpox in childhood and the virus remains dormant, with possible reactivation as shingles.
• B. The virus directly causes shingles in adulthood.
• C. The virus is eradicated after a chickenpox infection and cannot reactivate.
• D. Shingles cannot be prevented by any vaccine.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is the two-stage pattern of varicella-zoster virus. The virus first causes varicella (chickenpox) during the initial infection, usually in childhood. After recovery, the virus doesn’t go away; it becomes latent and stays hidden in dorsal root ganglia. Later in life, especially with aging or weakened immunity, it can reactivate and cause herpes zoster (shingles), typically presenting as a painful, dermatomal rash. This explains why the statement describing varicella as the cause of chickenpox and the virus remaining dormant with possible reactivation as shingles is the correct description. Shingles is not the result of a new primary infection, and the virus can reactivate rather than being eradicated. Vaccines exist to prevent varicella and to reduce the risk and severity of shingles, so the claim that shingles cannot be prevented isn’t accurate.

The main idea here is the two-stage pattern of varicella-zoster virus. The virus first causes varicella (chickenpox) during the initial infection, usually in childhood. After recovery, the virus doesn’t go away; it becomes latent and stays hidden in dorsal root ganglia. Later in life, especially with aging or weakened immunity, it can reactivate and cause herpes zoster (shingles), typically presenting as a painful, dermatomal rash. This explains why the statement describing varicella as the cause of chickenpox and the virus remaining dormant with possible reactivation as shingles is the correct description.

Shingles is not the result of a new primary infection, and the virus can reactivate rather than being eradicated. Vaccines exist to prevent varicella and to reduce the risk and severity of shingles, so the claim that shingles cannot be prevented isn’t accurate.