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Ramsay Hunt syndrome

Definition:
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a neurologic disorder caused by a virus called varicella zoster, which can infect certain nerves of the head to produce facial paralysis and rash either in the ear, tongue, or palate.

Alternative Names:
Hunt's syndrome; Herpes oticus

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The varicella zoster virus causes both Ramsay Hunt syndrome and another common cause of facial weakness, Bell's palsy.

This virus is a relative of human herpes viruses (which cause fever sores on the mouth and genital herpes). The varicella zoster virus also causes two other diseases -- shingles (which is also a nerve infection, affecting the so-called "dorsal roots," the nerves of the sides of the trunk) and chicken pox (a disease characterized by an itchy rash, commonly affecting children).

The virus is believed to infect the facial nerve near the inner ear in this condition, which results in local inflammation (irritation and swelling with presence of extra immune cells). The extent of the symptoms may reflect the severity of the nerve inflammation.



Review Date: 8/1/2002
Reviewed By: Lucas Restrepo, M.D., Clinical Instructor, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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