Ramsay syndrome a neurological disorder

• May 13, 2024

The Ramsay Hunt syndrome It is named after the American doctor who described it more than 80 years ago. East neurological disorder occurs when the varicella zoster virus it infects certain nerves of the head producing Facial paralysis, affects the External auditive conduct and the membrane of eardrums .

Some symptoms that characterize it are hearing loss , vertigo sensation Y painful eruption in the eardrum , on the tongue or on the palate on the same side of the facial weakness, which has difficulty closing an eye and causes the smile to look crooked.

Blood tests can help determine if the person has been infected with the varicella zoster virus , in addition to nerve conduction studies that have to be done by a specialist who will determine the magnitude of the damage and the chances of recovery.

According to the dermatologists of the National Institutes of Health of the United States (NIH, for its acronym in English), a severe paralysis leads to an incomplete recovery with the possibility of leaving a permanent facial paralysis and uncontrollable movements.

In case of damage to the cornea, if the eyelid does not close completely, it is possible to suffer from ocular pain Y blurry vision . Occasionally and this is the most dangerous episode, the virus spreads to other nerves, including the brain and spinal cord .

Treatment and expectations

The antiviral drugs and the strong anti-inflammatory they can help mitigate the symptoms of Ramsay Syndrome and only a doctor can prescribe them and indicate the dose.

On the other hand, as long as the patient has facial weakness you must use an eye patch to prevent corneal injuries and damage to the eye, if it does not close completely.

On the issue of prognosis, NIH specialists point out that the more severe the damage, the longer the recovery will take and the lower the likelihood that the person will fully recover their normal functionality. If there is not much damage to the nerve, the complete improvement can occur in a few weeks.

70% of patients recover completely. If the treatment starts 3 days after the onset of symptoms.

Video Medicine: Ramsey Hunt Syndrome (May 2024).