Ramsay Hunt syndrome

SummaryIntroductionRamsay Hunt syndrome is a viral infection that combines facial palsy and pinnal vesicular rash.ObjectivesTo detail diagnostic criteria, treatment and prognosis in Ramsay Hunt syndrome.Patients and methodsA retrospective study of 15 patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome admitted to the ENT department of La Rabta Hospital (Tunis) from 2003 to 2009.ResultsThe main presenting symptom was facial palsy associated with conchal vesicular rash. House-Brackmann classification of facial nerve function ranged from III to V. All patients were treated with acyclovir and corticosteroids. Mean follow-up was 8 months. Ten patients showed improvement in facial palsy, four had permanent palsy and one moved from grade IV to grade III.ConclusionRamsay Hunt syndrome involves severe dysfunction, with poorer facial nerve prognosis than in Bell's palsy.