Virus Reactivation in Shingles
Once you have recovered from chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus still exists in the nervous system. It can remain inactive for many years without causing any issues. When the virus reactivates in nerve cells later, it may affect different parts in the nervous system and trigger symptoms of shingles. Signs, including rash and pain, mainly concentrate around the specific nerve cells where the virus becomes active. [2]
