APA Dictionary of Psychology

a highly contagious viral infection characterized by skin eruptions with fever, headache, anorexia, and other mild constitutional symptoms. The varicella-zoster virus, which causes chicken pox in children, also causes shingles in adults, although children or adults may experience both forms (see herpes infection). A common neurological complication is acute cerebellar ataxia. Cranial nerve paralysis also may follow a chicken pox infection. Also called varicella.