Can You Get Chicken Pox a Second Time?

Can you getchickenpoxa second time?

That is a good question (and not at all an easy or simple one). To answer it, we would make three points:

1. Normally you only getchickenpoxonce because the virus responsible for it elicits a powerful immune reaction that is highly protective against symptomatic reinfection, preventing another bout ofchickenpox.
2. Repeat bouts of chickenpox can, however, occur in persons with severe disease of their immune system. For examples, in children and adults who are being immunosuppressed for a transplant or who haveAIDS.
3. Shinglesare a special story. Thevaricella-zoster virusthat causes chickenpox (varicella) can later be reactivated and causeshingles(zoster).Shinglesare rare in children and become more common in adults with age. (Read our full medical article onShingles)