Published on Jun 11, 2022 12:27 PM IST Show
Singer Justin Bieber has been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which has caused a paralysis on the right side of his face. Here's what the disease means. Justin Bieber says a rare disorder that paralyzed half of the superstar performer's face is the reason behind his tour postponement. The multi-Grammy winner is suffering from Ramsay Hunt syndrome, he said in video he posted Friday on Instagram. The syndrome causes facial paralysis and affects nerves in the face through a shingles outbreak. (Also read: Justin Bieber says right side of his face is paralysed after virus attack, calls it 'pretty serious' condition) HT spoke to Dr Praveen Gupta, principal director and head, department of neurology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute about Justin's condition, the symptoms it shows and more. Speaking about what causes the disease, Dr Gupta said, “Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is a viral infection, caused by varicella-zoster virus, of the facial nerve. It’s a family of herpes virus. The area around the ear gets painful rashes. Its another name is herpes zoster oticus.” About the syndrome's symptoms, he said, “What it does is that it causes paralysis in the facial nerve. It can cause pain in ear, around your face, make it difficult to close eyes, your face will look skewed when you smile you experience difficulty in blowing out of your mouth, and your tongue’s taste receptors are also affected.” Ramsay Hunt is a localised syndrome and doesn’t affect rest of the body. It can also affect anyone. The doctor said that it ‘can be fixed with antivirals and steroids’ and the patient takes six weeks to three months to recover. Justin's post comes after he cancelled his shows in Toronto and Washington, D.C. The singer demonstrated in the video that he could barely move one side of his face, calling the ailment “pretty serious.” “For those frustrated by my cancellations of the next shows, I'm just physically, obviously not capable of doing them,” he said. The singer added, “My body's telling me I've got to slow down. I hope you guys understand.” Justin said he's unsure how long he'll take to heal. But he appeared positive about making a full recovery through rest and therapy. “I'll be using this time to just rest and relax and get back to a hundred percent, so that I can do what I was born to do,” he said.
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Home Blog Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, Explained by Dr. Amit Kochhar
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, Explained by Dr. Amit KochharWhat caused Justin Bieber’s facial paralysis? Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s facial nerve expert, Dr. Amit Kochhar, Director of the Facial Nerve Disorders Program, explains how Ramsay Hunt Syndrome – a rare virus also known to cause chickenpox and shingles – recently led to the 28-year-old pop star’s facial paralysis. What is Ramsay Hunt syndrome?Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a form of virally-induced facial paralysis caused by reactivation of the herpes zoster virus, which is more commonly known as varicella zoster, the chickenpox virus. While the virus may have been treated or went away in childhood or young adulthood, it remains and lives dormant in our nerves. In some patients, the virus can reactivate in the facial nerve, the nerve that is responsible for movement of the face. When this happens, the nerve can become inflamed within the bone that is supposed to protect it. When the nerve expands, the nerve can get crushed by bone, causing the nerve to stop functioning and leading to sudden onset facial paralysis. What are other side effects of Ramsay Hunt syndrome?Ramsay Hunt syndrome may also affect other nerves that are in close relationship to the facial nerve. This includes the 8th cranial nerve, which is important for hearing and balance. In addition to having facial paralysis and a rash on your face or ear, patients can also develop vertigo, dizziness, and hearing loss from Ramsay Hunt syndrome. How common is Ramsay Hunt syndrome?Ramsay Hunt syndrome is very rare. It only occurs in about 5 in 100,0000 people. That being said, anyone who has had chickenpox in the past, could develop Ramsay Hunt syndrome if the virus is reactivated. Patients who have had the vaccine to chicken pox or shingles are protected against it. What triggers Ramsay Hunt syndrome?Ramsay Hunt syndrome is believed to occur during periods of high stress that can cause one’s immune system to be suppressed. This can also occur if someone is taking immunosuppressive medications to artificially suppress the immune system as well. Does COVID-19 vaccination cause Ramsay Hunt syndrome?There have been some reports in the media that the COVID-19 vaccination can lead to facial paralysis, Bell’s Palsy, or Ramsay Hunt syndrome. However, there have been no reports to date that actually confirm that. We believe the vaccine can cause inflammation of nerves but do think it increases ones risk for developing facial paralysis. In fact, the number of patients who would normally develop Bell’s Palsy or Ramsay Hunt syndrome in the general population has been the same throughout the last few years when the COVID-19 vaccine has been available. So, the likelihood that someone would develop Ramsay Hunt syndrome after the COVID-19 vaccination is extremely unlikely. How long does it take to recover from Ramsay Hunt syndrome?Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is a more severe form of facial paralysis. Therefore, assuming a patient is able to get high-dose steroids and antivirals within the first few days of developing Ramsay Hunt syndrome, it can still take several weeks to months to recover. In some cases, patients will not have any facial recovery for a few weeks and may need a second dose of steroids. What does recovery from Ramsay Hunt syndrome look like?For the majority of patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome (approximately 75-80%), they will have minimal if any permanent facial asymmetry. This is typically seen in patients who recover within the first few weeks or month, after developing Ramsay Hunt syndrome. However, in the other 20-25% of patients, who take longer to recover, patients may have more noticeable facial asymmetry, such as:
If patients develop these symptoms, we typically recommend facial retraining physical therapy, or botulinum (botox) injections to relax the overactive muscles and improve facial symmetry. In very rare cases, we offer surgery for the most severe forms of synkinesis after Ramsay Hunt syndrome. This is called Selective Neurolysis and is reserved for those patients who are unable to benefit from more conservative treatment options. Dr. Amit Kochhar was recently featured in People Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Very Well Health, Prevention Magazine, Billboard Magazine, and Parade Magazine. Learn more about facial paralysis diagnosis, treatment, and care at the Pacific Facial Nerve Disorders Program. More information: 310-477-5558 About Amit Kochhar, MDAmit Kochhar, MD, is double board-certified in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is the director of the Facial Nerve Disorders Program at Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. Dr. Kochhar is one of a few select surgeons who perform complex (microvascular) head and neck reconstruction following cancer resections and facial trauma, as well as for the rehabilitation of facial paralysis, an area in which he has specific clinical expertise and research interest. Useful Links:
About the AuthorPNI ExpertsLast updated: August 16th, 2022 To give you the best possible experience, this site uses cookies and by continuing to use the site you agree that we can save them on your device. Will Ramsay Hunt syndrome go away?For most people, the hearing loss and facial paralysis associated with Ramsay Hunt syndrome is temporary. However, it can become permanent.
How common is Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2?Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2 is also known as herpes zoster oticus because reactivation of varicella zoster virus in the geniculate ganglion is what causes this disease. Ramsay Hunt Syndrome type 2 can account for 12% of all facial palsies and has a worse prognosis when compared to Bell's palsy.
How do I recover from Ramsay Hunt syndrome?Management and Treatment
Ramsay Hunt syndrome treatment may include various medications. Your healthcare provider may prescribe: An antiviral medication to treat the infection or decrease symptoms, such as acyclovir or valacyclovir. A corticosteroid to reduce inflammation of the nerve, such as prednisone.
Does Ramsay Hunt syndrome make you tired?Fatigue 62% Facial paralysis (unable to make facial expressions) 61% Dry eye 59% Eating & drinking problems 52%
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Ramsay hunt syndrome type 2 recovery time
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