varicella
- n an acute contagious disease caused by herpes varicella zoster virus; causes a rash of vesicles on the face and body
- For children 12 or younger, these include hepatitis A and B, DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), varicella and polio.
- Zostavax contains a crippled form of the chicken pox's varicella zoster virus, and jump-starts the body's immune system, boosting the defense cells specifically designed to attack .
- There varicella-zoster lies dormant, usually for decades.