title: Ramsay Hunt Syndrome Associated with Central Nervous System Involvement in an Adult.
abstract: Ramsay Hunt syndrome associated with varicella zoster virus reactivation affecting the central nervous system is rare. We describe a 55-year-old diabetic female who presented with gait ataxia, right peripheral facial palsy, and painful vesicular lesions involving her right ear. Later, she developed dysmetria, fluctuating diplopia, and dysarthria. Varicella zoster virus was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid by polymerase chain reaction. She was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome associated with spread to the central nervous system. Her facial palsy completely resolved within 48 hours of treatment with intravenous acyclovir 10 mg/kg every 8 hours. However, cerebellar symptoms did not improve until a tapering course of steroid therapy was initiated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Tommy L H
authors.initials: TLH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cartagena
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Services, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bombassaro
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Seyed M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hosseini-Moghaddam