Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

A 48-year-old woman presented with facial nerve palsy, ear pain, and vesicular eruptions on the right ear and oral mucosa, consistent with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (herpes zoster oticus). This condition arises from varicella-zoster virus reactivation in the geniculate ganglion. Treatment included an antiviral agent, a glucocorticoid, and pregabalin. At 3 weeks, mucocutaneous lesions resolved, and by 12 weeks, the facial palsy showed near-complete recovery (House-Brackmann grade improvement from 5 to 2). This case underscores the value of early recognition and treatment to improve neurologic outcomes.

A 48-year-old woman presented with facial nerve palsy, ear pain, and vesicular eruptions on the right ear and oral mucosa, consistent with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (herpes zoster oticus). This condition arises from varicella-zoster virus reactivation in the geniculate ganglion. Treatment included an antiviral agent, a glucocorticoid, and pregabalin. At 3 weeks, mucocutaneous lesions resolved, and by 12 weeks, the facial palsy showed near-complete recovery (House-Brackmann grade improvement from 5 to 2). This case underscores the value of early recognition and treatment to improve neurologic outcomes.