Justin Bieber had to cancel party dates in the near future due to a viral infection that paralyzed his face.
“You see, this eye is not blinking. I can’t smile on this side of my face. This nostril is not moving, ”Bieber told fans in an Instagram video.
The 28-year-old Canadian pop star suffers from a condition called “Ramsay Hunt Syndrome,” caused by the varicella zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.
After a person is cured of chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in the body for decades. It usually hides in a structure called the dorsal root ganglion, a group of nerve cells next to the spinal cord.
The virus does not cause any symptoms while it is sleeping. And to some people, it reactivates. This can happen spontaneously or because of a known trigger, such as another infection (including “Covid-19”), a weak immune system, or stress. All of these things disrupt the functioning of the immune system, allowing the virus to function again and cause disease.
When the virus reactivates, it usually appears on one part of the body (mainly the trunk) as a painful, blistering rash known as shingles.
However, when reactivation affects a nerve in the head called the facial nerve, it is known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, named after James Ramsay Hunt, the physician who first described the disorder in 1907.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome typically affects five to 100,000 people per year, and anyone who has had chickenpox can get it.
The facial nerve travels from the brain to the face through a very narrow channel called the facial canal. There is one on each side of the brain to give the left and right side of the face.
This narrow bony tunnel is inside a very dense piece of bone, so a little swelling can compress the nerve. Because it is deep in the skull, it can be very difficult to treat.
As part of its journey, the facial nerve travels along the vestibulocochlear nerve, which is involved in hearing and balance, which is why some people with Ramsay Hunt syndrome also have hearing problems, such as tinnitus, and sometimes balance. .
The symptoms of this syndrome vary in each case, but often there is paralysis of the facial nerve that penetrates the muscles of facial expression, making it difficult to smile or frown. It can also limit the ability to blink, and some people may experience slurred speech and changes in their taste.
The painful rash usually appears in and around the ear, on both sides of the paralysis. This rash is a sign that it is not Bell’s palsy (another type of facial paralysis).
A complication of Ramsay Hunt syndrome is possible damage to the cornea (where light passes to be seen). This is due to the lack of blinking, which helps hydrate the eye.
The facial nerve also enters the lacrimal gland, which can also be paralyzed. This gland produces fluid that lubricates the eye.
People with Ramsay Hunt syndrome may need to lubricate their eyes with artificial tears. The affected eye should be closed at night.
Treatment is commonly used with antiviral drugs, steroids, and pain relievers. Chances of full recovery are better if treatment is started early.
If treatment is given within three days from the onset of symptoms, approximately 70% of people are completely cured. But if treatment is not started during this time, the chance of full recovery is reduced to 50%.
This report was prepared with the input of Adam Taylor, Professor and Director of the Center for Clinical Anatomy Learning, Lancaster University.
Source: Science Alert
Source: Arabic RT
