title: Zeroing in on zoster: A tale of many disorders produced by one virus.
abstract: While herpes zoster infection has been recognized since antiquity, chickenpox (varicella) was confused with smallpox until the 1800s, when both illnesses became better understood. In the 20th century, varicella zoster virus (VZV) was shown to cause varicella upon primary (first-time) infection and herpes zoster (shingles) after reactivation of latent VZV. Scientific progress over the past 50 years has rapidly advanced the understanding and prevention of disease produced by VZV. Combined imaging and virological studies continue to reveal the protean neurological, ocular and visceral disorders produced by VZV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Galetta
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology and Immunology & Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. Electronic address: don.gilden@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gilden
mesh_terms: D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans
keywords: Infection; Neurologic disease; Vaccination; Varicella-zoster virus