The history of the varicella-zoster virus is long and complicated. The virus that causes chickenpox is related to the viruses that cause shingles and herpes. The first recorded outbreak of chickenpox occurred in Japan in 792 AD. The disease then spread to China and other parts of Asia. From there, it is thought to have reached Europe in the Middle Ages. There are many historical accounts of chickenpox outbreaks in Europe, but the disease was not well-documented until the 18th century.
In 1767, English physician William Heberden published a paper describing the symptoms of chickenpox. He noted that the disease was particularly common in children and was generally mild. However, he also noted that some adults did develop more severe forms of the disease, which negatively impacted their health.
The disease continued to spread globally in the centuries that followed. In the late 20th century, a chickenpox vaccine became available. This has greatly reduced the incidence of the disease, but it has not eliminated it. Outbreaks still occur from time to time, usually in unvaccinated populations.
A Pox by Any Other Name Will Still Itch as Much
The name “chickenpox” is thought to have originated in medieval England. At that time, the disease was known as “varicella,” a Latin word meaning “little pox.” The name “chickenpox” first appeared in print in 1767 in a book called The Natural history of the human race by British physician Francis Adams.
In 1804, English physician Thomas Waterhouse gave the disease its official medical name, varicella-zoster. The ”zoster” part comes from the Latin word for “girdle,” referring to the characteristic rash of chickenpox, which typically encircles the body.
However, the name “chickenpox” is still more commonly used than the medical term. It’s unclear how the name came to be associated with the disease, but one theory is that it references the fact that chickens are often affected by a similar virus. Another possibility is that it’s a corruption of the Old English word for “itch,” which was used to describe the itching sensation caused by chickenpox. Some suggest the name may be due to the small, blister-like bumps that appear on the skin during a chickenpox infection. These bumps can resemble chicken bumps, pecks, or eggs. Other theories suggest the blisters resemble chickpeas, and thus the illness became known as chickenpox. Whatever its origins, the name “chickenpox” is now firmly entrenched in popular culture.