zoster

Everyday

1. (medicine) Short for herpes zoster, the medical name for shingles: a painful rash of blisters, usually in a stripe on one side of the body. tree →
2. (medicine) Part of the name of the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox and later can cause shingles. tree →

In the lessons

A doctors' word; in everyday life people say "shingles". Shingles mostly affects older adults: after someone has had chickenpox, the virus can sleep in the body for years and wake up later. There is a vaccine for older people. In science, it is an example of how some viruses can stay hidden in the body. Phrases: "herpes zoster", "varicella-zoster virus".

Examples

• Zoster is the medical name for shingles. tree →
• Grandma had herpes zoster and her side was very sore. tree →
• The varicella-zoster virus causes both chickenpox and shingles. tree →
• The doctor offered Grandad a zoster vaccine. tree →
• Zoster usually appears as a stripe of blisters on one side of the body. tree →
• You can only get zoster if you have had chickenpox before. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Pronounced ZOS-ter. It is a medical word, and "zoster" alone is a shortened form. Shingles is not the same as roof shingles (flat tiles), which is a different meaning of the word. Only a doctor should say whether someone has it.