THE UNHAPPY MOLLUSCS

It's fascinating in how it manifests itself, but aesthetically quite boring. Unless frightful skin rashes excite you intellectually, which, if you were on the spectrum is definitely possible.
I am, but it ain't pretty. Perhaps as a nougat or caramel candy.

Sadly, there are no appealing visuals of the virus itself that I can reference and riff off of. It's dull and ugly to me, despite resembling a microscopic bonbon in its last moments of singularity and wholeness.

It's one of over one hundred and thirty known orthoherpesviradae, nine of which can infect humans. Some others affect other mammals, birds, reptiles, and, surprisingly, molluscs.
Sick molluscs? I was not aware. Sorry. Get better, little blob, get well soon.


CHICKENPOX

Varicella zoster virus (human herpesvirus 3, VZV), is one of nine herpes viruses that are species-specific to humans, causing chickenpox and shingles. It multiplies in the tonsils, then causes lesions on the skin which look quite frightening, lasting a few days before rupturing and disappearing. Then it goes dormant in the nervous system including the cranial nerve ganglia, trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia, and autonomic ganglia.
Several years later VZV can reactivate and cause shingles.

Shingles can be quite horribly unpleasant and debilitating, especially if it persists for several weeks (or months). So getting the shingles vaccine is well worth it, except if you are an antivax idiot, in which case by all means don't.


The concept of a mollusc infected with a herpes virus sits in my head.
It saddens me. Poor helpless little blob, running a fever.
Don't worry, little fella, it will be over soon.

Of course you'll have to stay home from school for a few weeks. You're probably still infectious even though there are no more symptoms and you feel full of beans.



Reye's syndrome (associated with chickenpox but also influenze and other viral infections) may occur afterwards, causing brain dysfunction, repetitive vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, seizures, sometimes severe behavioural issues, diarrhœa, and possible liver damage.
It can result in death or coma. Salicylate (aspirin) heightens risk. It is rare.

Note that that got me looking up mannitol used medicinally. Which is fascinating early morning reading. Side effects may include heart failure and kidney problems.
It pulls fluid from the brain and eyes.



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