Ramsay Hunt syndrome

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Hunt syndrome; Herpes oticus

• Painful rash on the eardrum, ear canal, earlobe, tongue, roof of the mouth (palate) on the same side as weakness of the face
• Hearing loss on one side
• Sensation of things spinning (vertigo)
• Weakness on one side of the face
  • Difficulty closing one eye
  • Difficulty eating (food falls out of the weak corner of the mouth)
  • Difficulty making expressions, grimacing
  • Difficulty with fine movements of the face
  • Facial droop
  • Paralysis of one side of the face

The doctor will usually make the diagnosis by looking for signs of weakness in the face and a blister-like (vesicular) rash.

Tests may include:

• Blood tests for varicella zoster virus
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Lumbar puncture
• MRI of the head
• Nerve conduction (to determine the extent of damage to the facial nerve)
• Skin tests for varicella zoster virus

Review Date: 05/05/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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