Pop star Justin Bieber publicized his face is partly paralyzed by a viral condition called Ramsay Hunt syndrome, caused by the same contagion, varicella- zoster, that causes chicken pox and shingles.
He told fans in a YouTube video Friday that the contagion had attacked” the nerve in my ear, facial nerves and has caused my face to have paralysis. You can see this eye isn’t blinking. I can not smile on this side of my face. This nostril won’t move.”
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that occurs when the varicella- zoster contagion infects a nerve in the head near the inner ear. After having chickenpox as a child or shingles as an adult, the contagion can lay dormant in the body. Why the contagion reactivates and produces symptoms of Ramsay Hunt isn’t known
Symptoms can include a painful rash inside the ear canal and outside the ear, at times attacking the tongue and roof of the mouth, according to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Due to the inner ear involvement, people with the condition can also suffer vertigo( the sensation of dizziness or things spinning around you), or tinnitus, a ringing in the ear.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome can also beget hearing loss on the side of the face affected. Like Bieber, it can also beget a weakness, facial slackness or paralysis on the side of the face which has been attacked by the contagion.
That weakness can beget difficulty with closing one eye, making facial expressions and eating, as food can fall out of the side of the weakened mouth.
Treatment consists of steroids similar as prednisone to reduce inflammation and pain medicinal. At time, antiviral drugs that help with the herpes family, similar as acyclovir or valacyclovir may be prescribed.
Bierber assured fans that he’s” gon na get better” and that he was doing” facial exercises to get my face back to normal.”
” It’ll go back to normal– it’s just time and we do not know how much time, but it’s going to be OK,” he said in the videotape.” Obviously my body’s telling me I got ta decelerate down. I hope you guys understand and I will be using this time to just rest and relax and get back to 100.”
According to Mount Sinai, full recovery isn’t certain. Some recover in a limited months, however. The earlier it’s caught the better the chance of recoupment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGB7GotPDQg
Also read: Justin Bieber updates the public on his facial paralysis.
