CLAIM

One can contract chickenpox twice.

FACT

A bout of Chickenpox is self-vaccinating and rarely does one experience a second infection

Many of us who had chickenpox as a child, remember being told that we would not get it a second time and that we are immune to it. However, now some social media users have been claiming the contrary—one could contract chickenpox, twice—on popular platform X. One such claim reads, ”One can have chicken pocks twice. It can make a return in persons whose immunity has been compromised…”.

One can have chicken pocks twice. It can make a return in persons whose immunity has been compromised, like the elderly and it can even kill them. My grandma died of chicken pox at 96. She also infected my younger sister who has never had before.

— uptowngirl (@SheFroliciouss) September 5, 2019

Another user said that "I’ve had chicken pox and measles twice! Once as a child and again In secondary school."

Another user, Dr Ellie, who writes for the Mail on Sunday in the UK and has close to 40,000 followers on the platform, also posted that "In my family people get chicken pox more than once. They just do. With no "underlying health issue"."

In my family people get chicken pox more than once. They just do. With no "underlying health issue".

Have a friend who never developed antibodies to hep B despite vaccinations.

5 cases of reinfection with #COVID19 worldwide after 37 million cases

We can't conclude anything yet

— Dr Ellie (@Dr_Ellie) October 13, 2020

However, even if these personal anecdotes are true, they may have been the exception to the rule, as medical evidence contradicts these assertions.  Our immune system remembers most of the viral and bacterial infections that it was exposed to and keeps responding, accordingly. This is what is referred to as the immunological memory. Immunological memory is what protects individuals from a second bout of Chickenpox.

In medical parlance chickenpox is termed as varicella and is caused by Varicella Zoster Virus. The incubation period of the virus is 14 to 16 days. It could take between 10 to 21 days after exposure to the virus for chickenpox to show up on an individual’s body. The virus itself lasts for about four to seven days. During this period the person develops a rash with itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually turn into scabs. Once the infection subsides, the virus recedes into dormancy and settles in the nervous system.

A bout of Chickenpox is self-vaccinating and rarely does one experience a second chickenpox infection.

However, since the virus has not left the body, but transitioned into dormancy, it could manifest as herpes zoster virus. Herpes Zoster results in shingles, blisters on one side of the body, typically face or waistline.

Many seem to be confusing this shingles as a second round of chickenpox; and often use the terms interchangeably.

An X user, who has over 16,000 followers, posted that "i’m seeing people say “chicken pox” and it’s uncommon to get it twice, but it can happen. and once you’ve gotten it, the virus remains inactive in nerve tissue. and can reactivate as shingles."

i’m seeing people say “chicken pox” and it’s uncommon to get it twice, but it can happen.
and once you’ve gotten it, the virus remains inactive in nerve tissue.
and can reactivate as shingles. https://t.co/ya6SbdbRUs

— collagen machine broke (@chronicallybeee) May 13, 2023

While Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the latent chicken pox virus, it is not the same. Shingles is usually seen in older people or those who have a weakened immune system. Unlike chickenpox, you cannot catch shingles from another person. However, people who have never had chickenpox before or have never been vaccinated against it, may develop chickenpox if they come in contact with someone with shingles.

Also read: FACT CHECK: Does Chicken Pox spread only after the rashes break out? - First Check

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