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Ramsay Hunt syndrome type II

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Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) type 2
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 B022 (ILDS B02.270), G53.0
ICD-9 053.11
DiseasesDB 11176
MedlinePlus 001647
eMedicine neuro/420
MeSH D016697

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) type 2 also known as herpes zoster oticus is a disorder that is caused by the reactivation of pre-existing herpes zoster virus in the geniculate ganglion, a nerve cell bundle, of the facial nerve. [1]

Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2 typically presents with inability to move many facial muscles, pain in the ear, taste loss on the front of the tongue, dry ears and mouth, and the eruption of an erythematous rash.

Signs and symptomsEdit

The symptoms and signs include acute facial nerve paralysis, pain in the ear, taste loss in the front two-thirds of the tongue, dry mouth and eyes, and eruption of an erythematous vesicular rash[2] in the ear canal, the tongue, and/or hard palate.

Since the vestibulocochlear nerve is in proximity to the geniculate ganglion, it may also be affected, and patients may also suffer from tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo.


RHS type 2 refers to shingles of the geniculate ganglion. After initial infection, varicella zoster virus lies dormant in various nerve cells in the body, where it is kept in check by the patient's immune system. Given the opportunity, for example during an illness that suppresses the immune system, the virus is reactivated and travels to the end of the nerve cell, where it causes the symptoms described above. [citation needed]

In RHS type 2, the affected ganglion is responsible for the movements of facial muscles, the touch sensation of a part of ear and ear canal, the taste function of the frontal two-thirds of the tongue, and the moisturization of the eyes and the mouth. The syndrome specifically refers to the combination of this entity with weakness of the muscles activated by the facial nerve. In isolation the latter entity would be called Bell's Palsy. [citation needed]

Like shingles, however, lack of lesions does not definitely exclude the existence of a herpes infection. The virus can be detected, even before the eruption of vesicles, from the skin of the ear.[3]


This disease is prevented by immunizing against the causal virus, varicella zoster, for example through Zostavax, a stronger version of chickenpox vaccine.

Treatment with the corticosteroid Prednisone and acyclovir has been shown to achieve complete recovery in a majority of patients if started within the first three days of facial paralysis, [4] with chances of recovery decreasing as treatment was delayed. Delay of treatment may result in permanent facial nerve paralysis. [citation needed]

Treatment apparently has no effect on the recovery of hearing loss. [citation needed]Diazepam is sometimes used to treat the vertigo.[5]


It is named after James Ramsay Hunt.[6][7]

See alsoEdit


  1. Hunt JR (1907). On herpetic inflammations of the geniculate ganglion: a new syndrome and its complications. J Nerv Ment Dis 34 (2): 73–96.
  2. Sweeney CJ, Gilden DH (August 2001). Ramsay Hunt syndrome. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. 71 (2): 149–54.
  3. Murakami S, Honda N, Mizobuchi M, Nakashiro Y, Hato N, Gyo K (1998). Rapid diagnosis of varicella zoster virus infection in acute facial palsy. Neurology 51 (4): 1202–5.
  4. Murakami, Shingo, Hato, Naohito; Horiuchi, Joji; Honda, Nobumitsu; Gyo, Kiyofumi; Yanagihara, Naoaki (1 March 1997). Treatment of ramsay hunt syndrome with acyclovir-prednisone: Significance of early diagnosis and treatment. Annals of Neurology 41 (3): 353–357.
  5. ramsay2 at NINDS
  6. Who Named It synd/2246
  7. (May 1954) THE RAMSAY HUNT syndrome. Proc. R. Soc. Med. 47 (5): 371–84.

External linksEdit

Template:Varicella zoster


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