Final answer:
Chickenpox and shingles are both caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Chickenpox is the initial infection, while shingles is a reactivation of the virus after years of dormancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chickenpox and shingles are both caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Chickenpox is the initial infection, which is characterized by a rash of blisters covering the skin. After the chickenpox infection resolves, the virus goes dormant within nerve-cell ganglia. The virus can reactivate after many years of dormancy and cause shingles, which is a nerve cell-specific disease.