What disease is closely related to shingles?

The disease that is closely related to shingles is chickenpox. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person has chickenpox, usually during childhood, the varicella-zoster virus remains dormant in the nervous system and can reactivate later in life, resulting in shingles.

This connection is crucial for understanding the epidemiology and management of both conditions, as individuals who have had chickenpox are at risk for developing shingles, particularly when their immune system is compromised due to stress, aging, or other factors.

Other diseases listed, such as measles, smallpox, and influenza, are caused by different viruses and do not share the same relationship with shingles as chickenpox does.