What is another name for herpes zoster?

Herpes zoster is commonly known as shingles. This condition arises from the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which originally causes chickenpox. After one has recovered from chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life, resulting in the painful rash and blisters characteristic of shingles. Understanding this connection helps highlight why shingles is the correct answer, as it directly refers to the condition caused by the reactivation of the same virus that led to chickenpox.

Chickenpox, while related, specifically refers to the initial infection, not the reactivation. Cold sores are caused by a different virus (herpes simplex virus), and hand-foot-and-mouth disease is caused by enteroviruses, making them unrelated to herpes zoster.