title: Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a viral infection that combines facial palsy and pinnal vesicular rash.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To detail diagnostic criteria, treatment and prognosis in Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 15 patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome admitted to the ENT department of La Rabta Hospital (Tunis) from 2003 to 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main presenting symptom was facial palsy associated with conchal vesicular rash. House-Brackmann classification of facial nerve function ranged from III to V. All patients were treated with acyclovir and corticosteroids. Mean follow-up was 8 months. Ten patients showed improvement in facial palsy, four had permanent palsy and one moved from grade IV to grade III.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ramsay Hunt syndrome involves severe dysfunction, with poorer facial nerve prognosis than in Bell's palsy.
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie maxillofaciale, hôpital La Rabta, Jabbari, Tunis, Tunisia. rimzainine@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zainine
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sellami
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charfeddine
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beltaief
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahtout
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Besbes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016697:Herpes Zoster Oticus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult