chicken pox

Definition

A highly contagious viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, characterized by a distinctive rash of fluid-filled blisters that appear in waves over the body. Most common in children, it typically confers lifelong immunity after infection.

Example Usage

My daughter came down with chicken pox last week and has to stay home from school for a few days.

Origin

The name likely derives from the resemblance of the rash to chickpeas, or possibly from the 15th-century word 'chick' meaning small.

Fun Fact

The virus that causes chicken pox remains dormant in nerve tissues and can reactivate later in life as shingles, a painful condition affecting older adults.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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