A Case of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome with Atypical Presentation

Kamil KAYAYURT, Ozcan YAVASI, Ozlem BILIR, Gokhan ERSUNAN, Baris GIAKOUP

Department of Emergency, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Faculty of Medicine, Rize

Keywords: Facial palsy; Ramsay Hunt syndrome; varicella-zoster virus

Abstract

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a rare complication of herpes zoster which results from the reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus in the geniculate ganglion. Although facial nerve is the most common affected nerve in Ramsay Hunt syndrome, other cranial and cervical nerves can also be affected. We present an atypical case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome in a 42-year-old male, with cervical nerve involvement. As spontaneous recovery rate in Ramsay Hunt syndrome is low, early diagnosis and treatment plays a key role in full recovery of paralysis.