VZV

Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease

VZV
Stands forVaricella-zoster virus
CategoriesMedical

VZV stands for Varicella-zoster virus, an infectious disease abbreviation.

Herpesvirus that causes chickenpox (varicella) on first infection and later, after lying dormant in nerve ganglia, can reactivate as shingles (herpes zoster). It spreads through the air and by contact with blisters, and is highly contagious to people who have never had chickenpox or the vaccine.

Example: Exposed to VZV at daycare, nonimmune pregnant patient; check IgG and consider VariZIG.

Usage notes

Also designated human herpesvirus 3. The live varicella vaccine was licensed in the US in 1995 and has dramatically reduced chickenpox. Hospitalized patients with chickenpox or disseminated shingles need airborne and contact precautions. Pregnant women and immunocompromised people are at risk of severe disease.

More infectious disease abbreviations

  • ACIP – Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
  • AIDS – Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
  • AMR – Antimicrobial resistance
  • ARF – Acute rheumatic fever
  • ART – Antiretroviral therapy
  • ASP – Antimicrobial stewardship program
  • BCG – Bacillus Calmette-Guérin
  • BSI – Bloodstream infection
  • C. diff – Clostridioides difficile
  • CD4 – Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4 T-cell count)
  • CDI – Clostridioides difficile infection
  • CMV – Cytomegalovirus

See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.