Lip ulcers, chickenpox, zoster and even tumors. A herpes virus infection can manifest itself in different ways. One of them is the syndrome named after the American neurologist Ramsay Hunt, who first described the disease in 1907.
There are more than 200 types of herpes virus, 9 of which are typical of humans. What they all have in common is that they can remain in the body after the first infection. For example, the varicella zoster virus causes chickenpox disease when first infected during childhood. The same virus can, after decades of dormancy in nerve cells, reactivate and cause shingles, as well as Ramsay Hunt syndrome (herpes zoster oticus) that affects Canadian singer Justin Bieber.
Symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome
Similar to shingles, Ramsay Hunt syndrome presents with a red, painful rash on one ear. A second distinctive symptom is increasing paralysis on the side of the face affected by the rash. This irritation and paralysis often occur at the same time.
Hearing loss, pain or permanent ringing in the affected ear -tinnitus- may be other symptoms of the syndrome. Facial paralysis also affects the eye and prevents it from closing properly. Dizziness, numbness of the tongue and loss of taste are other manifestations of the disease.
The risks of the disease
Any person who had chickenpox could also have Ramsay Hunt syndrome. However, people older than 60 years are usually mainly affected. Children rarely get sick.
Herpes viruses usually reactivate when the host’s immune system is weakened or is focused on defending other areas of the body. For example, a cold can be as important a reason for reactivation as other forms of physical or psychological stress.
Treatment with antiviral drugs
Treatment of Ramsay Hunt syndrome should begin within the first 3 days after the onset of symptoms to avoid permanent damage. Antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir, have been used for decades against herpes virus infections and also they are prescribed in the case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
Usually, both the rash and the facial paralysis disappear after a while. However, in some cases they persist despite treatment. Since paralysis usually prevents the affected eye from closing, corneal damage could occur.
Another consequence of Ramsay Hunt syndrome could be postherpetic neuralgia. In the process, the virus damages nerve fibers in the eye, leading to impulses that are excessive and disturbing. This causes permanent pain, even when the symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome have disappeared.
According to the German Robert Koch Institute (RKI), a complete vaccination against chickenpox can reduce the probability of becoming infected with the chickenpox virus -zoster by 200%, which also reduces the probability of developing Ramsay Hunt syndrome. (ju)
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