Justin Bieber on Friday posted an Instagram video and told his fans that he had Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Ramsay Hunt syndrome caused him a facial paralysis condition.
Therefore, Bieber, that has 28 years old, has to cancel many of his concerts because of his illness. “As you can see, this eye is not blinking,” Bieber said. “I can’t smile on this side of my face. This nostril will not move, so there’s full paralysis on this side of my face.” He added.
YouTuber and medical educator Dr. James O’Donovan explained a more details of Ramsay Hunt syndromes in a new video on his channel.
“Ramsay Hunt syndrome occurs when you get an outbreak of the varicella-zoster virus that affects the facial nerve near one of your ears,” Dr. James O’Donovan explained. “The two main signs or symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome are firstly a painful red rash with fluid filled blisters on, in, or possibly around one ear. Secondly, you can get facial weakness or drooping on the same side as the affected ear. Typically, the rash and the facial paralysis occur at the same time, but sometimes one can happen before the other, and other times the rash never occurs.” he stated.
Other less common symptoms include ear pain, hearing loss, and tinnitus. It also includes vertigo. You will feel your sense of taste has been changed, brought on by the affected nerves, and difficulty in closing one eye. This final symptom can be totally dangerous, as if the eye can’t be full close then the surface of the eye will speedily dry out, leading to inflammation of the cornea.
“Typically, a thorough history and a good clinical examination are enough to diagnose Ramsay Hunt,” says O’Donovan. Immediate treatment, he continues, will usually involve seven days of antiviral medication, high dose steroids, and pain relief.” He added.
“Timely intervention, especially with the steroids and antivirals, can influence prognosis. Early recognition and commencement of the steroids and antiviral therapy within the first 72 hours is thought to maximize the chance of a good recovery.” he concluded.
