Final answer:
Varicella, also known as chickenpox, is a common childhood disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a condition that occurs when the varicella-zoster virus reactivates in the nerve cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Varicella, also known as chickenpox, is a common viral childhood disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is a member of the herpesvirus family. In children, it is a mild and self-limiting disease that is easily transmitted through direct contact or inhalation of material from the skin lesions. In adults, chickenpox can be more severe and can lead to complications such as pneumonia and birth defects in pregnant women.
Herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles, is a condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus that has remained dormant in the nerve cells after a chickenpox infection. Shingles is characterized by a painful rash that usually appears on one side of the body. It can occur in individuals who have previously had chickenpox, and it is typically triggered by factors such as stress, aging, or immunosuppression.