title: Cranial polyneuropathy--Ramsay Hunt's syndrome: case report and discussion.
abstract: Ramsay Hunt's syndrome is an infectious cranial polyneuropathy caused by varicella zoster, the herpetic virus that also causes chickenpox and shingles. Its symptoms include facial paralysis, ear pain, and an auricular rash. Oral lesions are also present in most cases. This syndrome can affect any cranial nerve and usually affects multiple nerves, causing central, cervical, and peripheral effects. This article reports the case of a 35-year-old white female who was treated by the oral surgery service of a large urban hospital, after first reporting to the emergency clinic. Her reported symptoms of unilateral left-side facial paralysis, auricular pain, and trigeminal hyperesthesia were confirmed by clinical examination. An initial short low-dose steroid regimen was unsuccessful. A second daily dosage of 50 mg of prednisone was successful in 21 days. No permanent sequelae were evident or reported after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biologic and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, Memphis, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Geunes
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Schuman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D004433:Earache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016697:Herpes Zoster Oticus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone