Is Chickenpox the Same as Herpes?

Herpes is a highly stigmatized word and one that most people don’t want to be associated with. That’s why some people balk when they hear that chickenpox is a form of herpes. Not only that, the same herpes virus that causes chickenpox in children can also cause shingles in adults when it is reactivated.

Does this mean that all these conditions can be called “herpes”?

About Herpes Viruses

Herpesviridae is a group of viruses also known as herpes viruses. These viruses have different methods of targeting tissues in the body, but all can cause a blister-like rash that spreads. The name “Herpeviridae” comes from the Greek word “herpein,” which means “to creep.”

There are at least six different herpes viruses that commonly affect humans:

Making the Differentiation

When someone mentions they have herpes, they often mean genital herpes. However, it is technically correct to refer to either genital or oral herpes as just herpes.

By contrast, infections with the other types of herpes viruses are not clinically referred to as herpes. Although chickenpox, shingles, mononucleosis, and CMV retinitis are all caused by herpes viruses, they are not considered to be herpes in the usual sense of the word.

Sexual transmission is one of the differentiating factors between chickenpox and herpes, as VZV is not sexually transmitted. Although sexual transmission is possible for EBV and CMV, they can be passed through other bodily fluids, such as saliva, tears, urine, blood, and breast milk.

Due to the mode of transmission, something like a cold sore might be considered “innocent,” while genital herpes often carries the stigma of blame. It is an attitude that reflects the general discomfort that many people have with sex and sexuality.