A.    Yes. Since chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus (varicella zoster), the shingles vaccine is the chickenpox vaccine

Shingles, or herpes zoster, is an infection caused by the varicella zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles and chicken pox primarily differ in that shingles blisters usually erupt in a band along one side of the body while chicken pox blisters erupt all over the body.

Yes. Transmission may occur from person to person from infected rspiratory tract secretions. Transmission may also occur by respiratory contact with airborne droplets or by direct contact or inhalation of aerosols from vesicular fluid of skin lesions of acute Chickenpox (Varicella) or Shingles (Herpes Zoster).

Shingles, also called herpes zoster or zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV). VZV is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body. Usually the virus does not cause any problems; however, the virus can reappear years later, causing shingles. Herpes zoster is not caused by the same virus that causes genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease.

A.    There is a statistical correlation between infection with Herpes simplex type II and cervical cancer in women.

Because the virus that causes herpes zoster is the chicken pox virus, persons with active herpes zoster are at risk for transmitting chicken pox. Like chicken pox, the person is considered infectious until the rash has crusted over. Persons who have not had chicken pox are at risk for getting it if they come in contact with the fluid oozed from the vesicles. Those with chicken pox transmit the virus most effectively by respiratory means (sneezing, runny nose, saliva, etc.

The scientific name for the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles is varicella-zoster virus. "Varicella" is the Latin word for "little pox." The term "zoster" comes from the Greek word for "girdle," which relates to the most common area for a shingles outbreak.

A:  Cold Sores, Fever Blisters and Herpes are caused by the herpes simplex virus. It is estimated that 45 million Americans are plagued by this pesky virus. The virus most often lives in the nerve ganglia of your brain and travels down the nerve cells to the skin to multiply. When this migration occurs, the sufferer can usually feel the trouble brewing as a "twinging" feeling at the lip or around the mouth where the lesion is going to form.

No. The varicella zoster virus causes only chicken pox and shingles. It does not cause cold sores or genital herpes.

Herpes Zoster (shingles) is an acute infection that frequently leads to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a severe and painful condition. Acyclovir is used to shorten the length of the herpes zoster infection and speed up the healing of the skin sores. Acyclovir is used for 7 to 10 days, but must be started within 72 hours of the appearance of the herpes zoster rash. Over-the-counter and prescription anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers are also used to reduce inflammation and pain.

Research has been going on for many years on vaccines to prevent HSV-2 infection. An experimental vaccine is currently in clinical trials. At best, this vaccine will be only partly effective in preventing infection. If the research results are positive, it will be at least another 3-4 years before the vaccine is available.

Herpes viruses have two main characteristics: they stay with you for life, and they cause spreading skin eruptions. The virus that causes chickenpox and shingles fits that description perfectly.

A:  One common denominator is that our products are designed to put the ionic silver in the place where it is needed and only where it is needed. This allows us to use thousands of times less active agent than an oral antibiotic or antiviral. What this means to the user is that they can be far less concerned about "taking too much" than they would be with most common medications. This product is a tool with which you can positively improve your health.

A. The smallpox vaccine is made from a live microbe called the vaccinia virus , a weak biological cousin of the smallpox virus. Once inoculated, you become immune to the deadly smallpox virus. The vaccine is essentially the same as when it was introduced more than 200 years ago. Yes. The vaccination against smallpox is extremely effective in preventing the disease. We know this because by the 1970s, thanks to the vaccine, the disease was eradicated from the U. S.

A. A bifurcated needle (one with two prongs, like a tiny shrimp fork) is dipped into the smallpox vaccine solution. The needle retains a droplet of the vaccine and then is administered by 15 quick pricks to an area on the upper arm. Successful vaccination produces a sore that recipients must cover with a gauze bandage and tape for 2 to 3 weeks. A. Successful vaccination produces a red and itchy bump at the inoculation site within 3 or 4 days.

Although various vaccines against herpes have been studied, we have no indication of when they will be available. Some of the vaccines have demonstrated positive effects in certain groups of people (e.g., women without herpes infection); however, research in this area is ongoing. Antiviral agents significantly reduce the number of genital herpes outbreaks when taken daily for a prolonged period of time (suppressive therapy). However, if you stop taking antiviral medication, outbreaks can resume.

Herpes Zoster (shingles) is an acute infection that frequently leads to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a severe and painful condition. Famvir is used to shorten the length of the herpes zoster infection, speed up the healing of the skin sores, and shorten the duration of PHN in those patients who develop PHN. Famvir is used for 7 days, but must be started within 72 hours of the appearance of the herpes zoster rash.

A.    Antibodies can neutralize viruses and toxins, lyse bacteria, clump microbes and their products into larger complexes that are cleared from the body more easily, and increase the rate of phagocytosis of those particles. Q.    How similar to the format of questions on the last test will be the questions on this test. That is to say, what are you expecting us to be able to demonstrate a knowledge of? (i.e. general concepts, specific terms) A.

A.    R factors are plasmids that contain antibiotic resistance genes (R for resistance). A.    Abcesses, scalded skin syndrome and impetigo contagiosum are the three. As for salient differences, Webster's defines salient as prominent or conspicuous. A.    The supplemental readings are available online through our classes website. The article is called "AIDS knowledge and sexual attitudes." Q.

A.    ELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. It is a test that detects either specific antigen or specific antibody. A positive reaction leads to a color change.

A.    From the American Heratge Dictionary, lymphadeopathy is a chronic, abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes, usually associated with disease. This is typically a result of immune system involvement, and proliferation of T and B lymphocytes in response to antigenic stimulation. If you want me to answer your question directly, please leave your name and e-mail address (optional):

It is easy to get confused over the terms we hear when people are talking about shots. Some people call them immunizations. Others call them vaccinations, or inoculations. Some just call them shots. Don't be confused. These words all mean the same thing. If a doctor or nurse tells you to bring in your baby for immunizations or vaccinations, or to be vaccinated or immunized, they are asking you to bring the baby in for shots.

Zostavax is approved for prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) in persons 60 years of age and older. It is not indicated for treatment of shingles or post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).

The answer is yes. There are two issues associated with pregnancy and birth. One is the issue of transmitting herpes to the baby if the mother is having an outbreak during the birth. Doctors are very used to dealing with this situation, as long as they know about it. Sometimes it necessitates having a C-section instead of normal labor. The second issue is a little more complex, and it concerns a mother who actually gets infected with herpes during the pregnancy.

HHV-6 does not cause genital herpes or shingles. Genital herpes is caused by Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and shingles is caused by Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) which is also the cause of chicken pox. For more information on HSV, go to www.genitalherpes.com

A.    First, you need to have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer. This installer program is available on the latest version of the MUnet CD-ROM. Alternatively, you can download the installer program directly from Adobe by clicking on the Acrobat icon on the classses' home page. As you download the software, pay attention to where on your hard drive the installer program is being saved. After downloading the software, double-click the installer program's icon.

A.    It may be useful, but I have not used it in my course. If it were me, I would probably save my money. A.    The best way to determine whether a disease is caused by a bacterium or a virus is to memorize it from the notes. There is a clue about treatment that can help help remembering. Typically, antibiotics can be used only to treat diseases caused by bacteria. They are ineffective against viruses.