[Ramsay-Hunt syndrome]

Ramsay-Hunt syndrome is a peripheral facial nerve palsy accompanied by an erythematous vesicular rash on the ear or in the mouth; it is caused by varicella zoster virus that affects the geniculate ganglion. The zoster oticus is the second most common cause of atraumatic peripheral facial paralysis. We present a review of zoster oticus identified in our hospital among 2001-2005. We show various atypical cases with multiple cranial nerve involvement; cerebellum and spinal cord was affected in one patient. 3/10 cases were complicated with pneumonia. So, we think that some grade of immunodeficiency may be present in these cases. Treatment with acyclovir and prednisone has been successfully to improve the outcome in the most of patients. Compared with Bell s palsy, patients with zoster oticus often have more severe paralysis at onset and are less likely to recover completely.