The Canadian singer has announced that he is putting his career on hold due to Ramsay Hunt syndrome. We take stock of this disease caused by the varicella virus.
This Friday, June 10, 2022, singer Justin Bieber announced that he was taking a break from his career after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome: what is it exactly?
This rare disease affects people who have already been infected with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) during their lifetime: it is therefore a viral reactivation. The varicella-zoster virus attacks the facial nerve and, in particular, the sensory ganglion cells that compose it, according to mayoclinic.
A viral disease that can cause facial paralysis
Reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus generally occurs in a context of immune weakness: physical and/or emotional stress, the aftermath of an organ or bone marrow transplant, HIV infection, etc.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome: how does it manifest?
Symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome (also known as “herpes zoster oticus” in medical parlance) include pain in one ear (otalgia), a red rash, and/or blisters in and around the ear. affected ear (sometimes also around the mouth and/or tongue), hearing loss in the affected ear (hyperacusis), facial paralysis (with difficulty closing one eye, for example), fever ( more or less important), buzzing in the affected ear (tinnitus)…
Ramsay Hunt syndrome: how is it treated?
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is treated with medication: it generally combines acyclovir and hydrocortisone. However, this pathology remains of a less good prognosis than Bell’s palsy.