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Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2021; 19(05): 369-371
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1722618
Case Report

Ramsay Hunt's Syndrome in Pediatric Age

Marta Ribeiro Silva
1   Department of Pediatric Department, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
,
Lídia Leite
1   Department of Pediatric Department, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
,
Filipa Peixoto Sousa
2   Department of Neurology Department, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
,
Ricardo Maré
2   Department of Neurology Department, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
,
Teresa Pontes
1   Department of Pediatric Department, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
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Abstract

The Ramsay Hunt's syndrome (RHS), caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), is an infrequent cause of peripheral facial palsy in the pediatric patients. A 16-year-old adolescent boy presented with headache, right earache, and signs of lower motor neuron type facial palsy. He was medicated with deflazacort. Four days later, he developed blurry vision in the right eye, gait imbalance, and vesicular lesions in the right ear with decreased ipsilateral hearing acuity. A diagnosis of RHS was considered. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed pleocytosis, as well as VZV DNA. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain identified abnormal uptake of gadolinium contrast in the right seventh cranial nerve, reinforcing the diagnosis. The patient was treated with acyclovir (14 days) and prednisone, with progressive clinical improvement. We emphasize the importance of recognizing this syndrome in patients with facial palsy, since the early antiviral treatment significantly improves the prognosis.

Keywords

facial palsy - adolescent - Ramsay Hunt's syndrome - varicella-zoster virus


Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 18. November 2020

Angenommen: 08. Dezember 2020

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
02. Februar 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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