Varicella zoster virus Varicella zoster virus Varicella zoster virus or varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is one of eight herpesviruses known to infect humans. It causes chickenpox (varicella), a disease most commonly affecting children, teens, and young adults, and shingles (herpes zoster) in adults; shingles is rare in children. VZV is a worldwide pathogen known by many names: chickenpox virus, varicella virus, zoster virus, and human herpesvirus type 3 (HHV-3). VZV infections are species-specific to humans, but can survive in external environments for a few hours, maybe a day or two. VZV multiplies in the lungs, and causes a wide variety of symptoms. After the
IgG4-related disease Japanese investigators, notably choosing not to use the term 'systemic' as that might lead to malignant tumours in other organs getting incorrectly diagnosed as being just another manifestation of the IgG4-related condition. However, some experts at the international symposium did express reservations about naming the disease after IgG4, as its role in pathogenesis is questionable and the use of serum IgG4 concentrations as a biomarker is unreliable. An expanded term, 'Immunoglobulin G4-related disease', has sometimes been used also. However, this term was never referenced in the 2012 recommendations for nomenclature, and its use would appear to be erroneous. IgG4-related disease