Pox

A pox is a type of disease, often caused by an animal virus, characterised by pockmarks. The term may be used (in an archaic sense) to refer to disease.

Pox, as a disease, may refer to:

• Poxviruses
  • Smallpox, an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor
  • Monkeypox, an exotic infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus
  • Black pox, a symptom of smallpox that is caused by bleeding under the skin which makes the skin look charred or black. It was more common in teenagers. This symptom usually indicates that a patient with smallpox is going to die

• Potyviridae, a family of plant viruses
  • Plum pox, the most devastating viral disease of stone fruit from the genus Prunus

• Herpes viruses
  • Chickenpox, a highly contagious illness caused by primary infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV)
• Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease caused by the spirochetal bacteria Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum

In computing, it may refer to:

• P-O-X, a 2001 handheld electronic game
• PoxNora, a 2006 multiplayer online game that combines a collectible card game with a turn-based strategy game in a fantasy setting
• Plain Old XML, a term used to describe basic XML, a computer data representation format
• Orthopox 13, a character in the video game series Destroy All Humans!

In other uses, pox or POX may refer to:

• Pox (drink), a ceremonial drink common among the Maya, especially those in Chamula
• POx, shorthand wine term for premature oxidation
• Partial oxidation, a chemical reaction
• The P.O.X., a German band
• Pox, small rounded pegs of candy that are attached to a strip of paper
• President's Overseas XV, a 1971 rugby union squad, chosen to celebrate the centenary of the English Rugby Football Union, the oldest national rugby organisation in existence