Reversing Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
You have a rash inside of your ear. You can’t move the left side of your face, so much so when you attempt to drink some water, it dribbles down that side of your face. You could have Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a neurological disease in which the Varcella Zoster virus (the same one that causes chickenpox) leads to inflammation of the nerves involved in facial movements. When the nerves get inflamed, they can’t function, and there can be temporary facial palsy or paralysis. Here, the facial muscles in the infected person fail to receive signals to function properly. There are 12 cranial nerves in the body, and this syndrome is a viral infection affecting the 7th cranial nerve involved in facial movements. You will be shocked to know that the inflammation occurring due to the Varcella Zoster virus makes the nerve ineffective.
One with this syndrome will notice symptoms such as a painful, red rash and blisters in and around the ear and facial paralysis on the same side. A rash can be seen on the eardrum, the ear canal and the earlobe, inside of the mouth, and on the tongue. There is hearing loss, vertigo or a spinning sensation, weakness of one side of the face, droopy face, and difficulty in closing one eye and eating.
The condition is named after James Ramsay Hunt, who in 1907 identified the clinical symptoms and the nerves involved in the illness. Ramsay Hunt is rare with an incidence rate of 5 per 100,000 people in the United States. If the treatment is delayed or missed there can be long-term complications.
James Ramsay Hunt described three syndromes. Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2 is the best known of these conditions and is unrelated to type 1 and 3.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 1 is a rare neurological disorder. It causes seizures, tremors, loss of bodily function and cognitive impairment. Another name for the condition is Ramsay Hunt cerebellar syndrome.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 3 is a type of neuropathy in the palm section of your ulnar nerve. Other names for this condition include Hunt’s disease and artisan’s palsy.
Essentially, Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a special kind of shingles that erupts when the virus that causes chickenpox is activated in your body again. This virus belongs to the herpes virus group, which stays in the body and attacks the nerves. The Varcella Zoster virus can get reactivated when your immune system takes a hit. Stress can also impact the immunity leading to this condition. Various studies also reveal that T-cell dysfunction due to Coronavirus can also reactivate the Varcella Zoster virus. Prompt treatment will aid in quick recovery and lower the chances of severe nerve damage.
Some complications that can occur with this disease are changes in the appearance of the face (disfigurement) from loss of movement, eye damage resulting in loss of vision, change in taste, persistent pain (postherpetic neuralgia) and spasm of the face muscles and eyelids.
The diagnosis of Ramsay Hunt requires a variety of blood tests that are available and can be fairly sensitive, but are not foolproof. Your doctor may also recommend an electromyography, MRI and skin tests for the Varcella Zoster virus.
The disease isn’t contagious but can cause chickenpox in those who aren’t vaccinated. So get vaccinated as recommended by your medical provider. Your treating doctor will prescribe antiviral drugs, steroids and physiotherapy. Antiviral drugs, such as Zovirax, can lessen the duration and severity of symptoms. Steroids can be very helpful in reducing the inflammation of the nerves, which also contributes to the level of pain and the length of time the outbreak lasts.
You will have to do daily facial exercises, take care of eyes, use tear drops and wear glasses. The important thing to remember is that this disease is reversible and you can get cured around three months after initiating the treatment so don’t delay it.
