What is Ramsay Hunt Syndrome?
Ramsay-Hunt syndrome (RHS) has recently been made famous by singer Justin Bieber: because of the virus, he can hardly move his face. Facial paralysis is just one of the symptoms of Ramsay-Hunt syndrome. But what kind of virus is it actually? And is it contagious? Five questions and answers about Ramsay-Hunt syndrome.
1. What is Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome?
Ramsay-Hunt syndrome is an infection of the auditory nerve caused by the varicella zoster virus, a virus also responsible for chickenpox and shingles. It was first described in 1907 by neurologist James Ramsay Hunt and is also known as herpes zoster oticus.
2. What are the symptoms of Ramsay-Hunt syndrome?
In a video on his Instagram channel, Bieber shows how the corner of his mouth hangs, his eye doesn’t blink and how he can’t move his nostrils. The paralysis of the facial nerve is a known symptom of the infection the singer has contracted. However, the virus can also cause earaches, hearing loss, and dizziness. The hearing loss and the paralysis can both be temporary or permanent.
In addition, small, fluid-filled blisters may also form on the skin of the face, neck, pinna and ear canal after one to two days. The taste can also be reduced or changed.
3. How is RHS caused?
The infection is caused by the varicella zoster virus, a virus that is usually already present in the cranial nerves due to the chickenpox that has occurred at a younger age. Ramsay-Hunt syndrome can flare up with a weaker immune system. The virus settles through the auditory nerve into the seventh cranial nerve, the facial nerve that is responsible for the movement of muscles in your face.
4. Is Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome Contagious?
Ramsay-Hunt syndrome can be transmitted through the fluid from the blisters that develop in RHS, but only in children and adults who have never had an infection with the varicella zoster virus. However, the infected people are more likely to get the chickenpox from this virus and not RHS. Because most people have had the virus in the form of chickenpox, they cannot be infected by the blisters.
5. What is the treatment for Ramsay-Hunt syndrome?
In most patients, the symptoms disappear after five to twelve months. In children in particular, healing usually occurs through the body’s natural defenses. In adults, the symptoms can last for years and there is a greater chance of permanent paralysis. Rest, painkillers and possibly exercise therapy, training and massage of the facial muscles could help to recover from the virus. When the function of the eyelid is impaired, eye drops against dehydration are often prescribed.