Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS), which has forced singer Justin Bieber to cancel his world tour, is a rare and painful complication of the virus that causes shingles and chickenpox.
- What it is -
RHS was discovered in 1907 by the neurologist of the same name. It is a rare neurological disorder that can inflame and paralyse the facial nerve and cause a painful rash around the ear or mouth.
- Symptoms -
Symptoms vary from person to person, but can cause severe discomfort or pain.
Most sufferers become paralysed on one side of the face and develop an ear rash, according to the US National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).
The affected facial muscles may become weak or feel stiff, preventing the sufferer from smiling, frowning or shutting the eye on their paralysed side.
In certain cases, their speech may become slurred.
In many instances, a reddish, painful blistering rash appears on the outer ear and external ear canal.
"It's often diagnosed because of this ear rash," French infectious disease specialist, Benjamin Davido, told AFP.
Sometimes the blisters spread to the mouth, soft palate and upper throat and ear pain spreads to the neck.
Other possible symptoms include ringing in the ears (tinnitus), earache, hearing loss or hyperacusis -- where sounds appear much louder than normal -- nausea and vertigo.
- Causes -
RHS is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox in children and shingles in adults.
The virus can remain dormant for decades in a person who has had chickenpox as a child.
When it is reactivated, the carrier develops shingles and in some cases RHS. It is unclear why the virus reactivates and affects the facial nerve.
- Frequency -
RHS affects men and women in equal measure. Around five people in every 100,000 develop the syndrome in the United States every year, according to one estimate cited by NORD.
However, some researchers believe cases go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed, making it difficult to determine the disorder's true frequency in the general population.
Anyone who has had chickenpox can potentially develop Ramsay Hunt syndrome, but it is extremely rare in children, NORD said. Most cases affect older adults, especially those over 60, or with compromised immunity.
- What it is -
RHS was discovered in 1907 by the neurologist of the same name. It is a rare neurological disorder that can inflame and paralyse the facial nerve and cause a painful rash around the ear or mouth.
- Symptoms -
Symptoms vary from person to person, but can cause severe discomfort or pain.
Most sufferers become paralysed on one side of the face and develop an ear rash, according to the US National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).
The affected facial muscles may become weak or feel stiff, preventing the sufferer from smiling, frowning or shutting the eye on their paralysed side.
In certain cases, their speech may become slurred.
In many instances, a reddish, painful blistering rash appears on the outer ear and external ear canal.
"It's often diagnosed because of this ear rash," French infectious disease specialist, Benjamin Davido, told AFP.
Sometimes the blisters spread to the mouth, soft palate and upper throat and ear pain spreads to the neck.
Other possible symptoms include ringing in the ears (tinnitus), earache, hearing loss or hyperacusis -- where sounds appear much louder than normal -- nausea and vertigo.
- Causes -
RHS is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox in children and shingles in adults.
The virus can remain dormant for decades in a person who has had chickenpox as a child.
When it is reactivated, the carrier develops shingles and in some cases RHS. It is unclear why the virus reactivates and affects the facial nerve.
- Frequency -
RHS affects men and women in equal measure. Around five people in every 100,000 develop the syndrome in the United States every year, according to one estimate cited by NORD.
However, some researchers believe cases go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed, making it difficult to determine the disorder's true frequency in the general population.
Anyone who has had chickenpox can potentially develop Ramsay Hunt syndrome, but it is extremely rare in children, NORD said. Most cases affect older adults, especially those over 60, or with compromised immunity.
"It's quite astonishing to get Ramsay Hunt at Justin Bieber's age," Davido said. "But an unhealthy lifestyle or excessive fatigue can contribute because they make you more prone to viral infections."
- Treatment -
RHS is generally treated by antiviral drugs such as acyclovir and famciclovir, along with corticosteroids like prednisone.
Physiotherapy -- "which must start early on" -- usually enables the sufferer to make a full recovery but "around 30 percent" experience after-effects, Davido said.
ETX Studio
Tue Jun 14 2022
Bieber announced Friday that he is suffering from Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which occurs when the shingles virus targets a facial nerve near an ear and shuts down movement in half of a persons face. - ETX Studio
Pegawai, anggota bomba di lima negeri ada masalah kesihatan
Ujian Kemahiran Taktikal Kebombaan diduduki seramai 12,608 anggota dan pegawai dan hanya 9,313 sahaja yang lulus.
Kerajaan komited lahirkan lebih ramai teknousahawan
Anugerah Teknousahawan TVET@KKDW diperkenalkan bagi memberi pengiktirafan serta penghargaan kepada institusi, pengajar, pelajar, graduan dan alumni yang telah menunjukkan kecemerlangan dalam bidang keusahawanan TVET.
Kedah bakal bangunkan LRT di Langkawi
Kedah merancang membina sistem tren Transit Aliran Ringan (LRT) menggunakan teknologi levitasi magnet di Langkawi
Kes pedofilia MRSM Tumpat diklasifikasikan fitnah, tiada bukti kukuh
Kes pedofilia terhadap seorang guru Maktab Rendah Sains Mara di Tumpat diklasifikasikan sebagai fitnah selepas siasatan tidak menemui bukti kukuh berhubung kes itu, kata Ketua Polis Kelantan Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun.
Kerajaan berusaha tangani inflasi, tingkat kuasa beli rakyat
Menurut Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, kerajaan tidak berdiam diri dalam menangani masalah inflasi termasuk melalui pelaksanaan pelbagai bentuk intervensi seperti kawalan harga.
Keutamaan negara Asia Barat untuk penuhi hasrat rakyat Palestin
Sekiranya Palestin diberikan negara dan kebebasan, mana-mana pihak tidak perlu lagi campur tangan dan tidak ada lagi konflik di Timur Tengah.
WEF gemakan wawasan, keterbukaan Malaysia dalam tiga hasrat
Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Dunia (WEF) menjadi platform untuk Malaysia menggemakan keterbukaan jalinan kerjasama untuk melonjakkan ekonomi negara.
Hari ketiga lawatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Riyadh Arab Saudi membawa wawasan Malaysia memperkasa hubungan bilateral antara negara, selain perbincangan mengenai pelaburan dan usaha memperkasa jalinan kerjasama sedia ada.
Hari ketiga lawatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Riyadh Arab Saudi membawa wawasan Malaysia memperkasa hubungan bilateral antara negara, selain perbincangan mengenai pelaburan dan usaha memperkasa jalinan kerjasama sedia ada.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Isnin, 29 April 2024.
WEF gemakan wawasan, keterbukaan Malaysia melalui tiga hasrat
Malaysia mahu perkasa hubungan bilateral antara negara, selain perbincangan mengenai pelaburan dan usaha mengukuhkan jalinan kerjasama sedia ada.
Iqbal dicemuh kerana bercita-cita 'ganti' Justin Bieber menyanyi di konsert
Iqbal memberitahu dia sedia menggantikan Justin Bieber menyanyi untuk rakyat Malaysia berikutan konsert artis antarabangsa itu ditunda.
Justin Bieber alami 'kelumpuhan muka', terpaksa batalkan konsert
Sindrom Ramsay Hunt itu dakwanya dijangkiti selepas virus merosakkan saraf di bahagian telinga sehingga tidak dapat mengelipkan mata serta senyum pada sebelah kanan muka.