Patient's question:
Recently, I haven't felt good during the New Year wine gatherings, and I've been drinking quite a bit. At first, when the red spots appeared, I didn't pay much attention. But later, it became severe enough to trigger shingles, and a few days after that, I developed facial paralysis. The neurology department diagnosed it as shingles, while the ear, nose, and throat department diagnosed it as Herpes Zoster oticus (Hunt syndrome)? I'm completely confused. What kind of illness is this in my case? How can I differentiate it?Doctor's answer:
Hunt syndrome is a common peripheral facial disorder, second only to Bell's palsy in incidence. It primarily manifests as severe ear pain and vesicles on one side of the ear, accompanied by contralateral peripheral facial palsy. It may also involve hearing and balance disturbances. This condition is caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus, which is latent in the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve. When the immune function of the body declines, it can be reactivated to attack the geniculate ganglion, potentially damaging adjacent vestibular and auditory nerves. Cellular immune dysfunction is associated with the onset of the disease. Due to the involvement of the intracranial region, it can lead to local meningitis, so cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities are often present. This condition is typically treated with hormones and neurotrophic agents.