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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffIf treated within the first seven days, most people with Ramsay Hunt syndrome don't have long-term complications. However in some cases, even with prompt treatment, Ramsay Hunt may result in permanent hearing loss and facial weakness.
Other possible complications of Ramsay Hunt syndrome include:
- Unusual facial movements. A condition called synkinesis may develop if the infection severely damages your facial nerve and the nerve grows back to the wrong place. This can cause inappropriate nerve responses, such as blinking or tears when you're talking, laughing or chewing.
- Eye damage. The facial weakness caused by Ramsay Hunt syndrome may make it difficult for you to close your eyelid on the side of your face that's affected. Incomplete eyelid closure can lead to damage of the protective dome of clear tissue over the front of your eye (cornea). This damage can cause eye pain and blurred vision.
- Effects on other parts of your body. In rare cases, the varicella-zoster virus may spread to other nerves, or to your brain or spinal cord, causing headaches, back pain, confusion, lethargy and limb weakness.
- Postherpetic neuralgia. Postherpetic neuralgia may develop as a result of nerve fiber damage. Damaged fibers aren't able to send messages from your skin to your brain, as they normally do. Instead, the messages become confused and exaggerated, causing pain that may persist long after other signs and symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome have faded.
- Mattox, DE. Clinical disorders of the facial nerve. In: Cummings CW, et al. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.; Mosby; 2005.
- Fort G, et al. Ramsay Hunt syndrome. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008: 498.
- Mueller NH, et al. Varicella zoster virus infection: Clinical features, molecular pathogenesis of disease, and latency. Neurologic Clinics. 2008;26:675.
- Herpes zoster oticus information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/ramsay2/ramsay2.htm. Accessed Nov. 16, 2008.
- Shingles: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/shingles/detail_shingles.htm#124173223. Accessed Nov. 16, 2008.
- Ramsay Hunt syndrome: Treatment. Ramsay.org. http://www.ramsayhunt.org/treat.shtml. Accessed Nov. 16, 2008.
- Herpes zoster oticus. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec08/ch086/ch086e.html. Accessed Nov. 16, 2008.
- Recommended immunization schedule for persons aged 0-6 years - United States, 2008. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.aafp.org/online/etc/medialib/aafp_org/documents/clinical/immunization/childsched.Par.0001.File.tmp/08childsched.pdf. Accessed Nov. 16, 2008.
