[Ramsay Hunt syndrome: our experience]

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is a disease caused by the Varicella Zoster virus and characterised by skin rash, peripheral facial palsy and otologic symptoms.

This was an epidemiological study on the incidence and prognosis of this syndrome.

A retrospective study was carried out on the patients diagnosed with RHS who were seen in the emergency room between January 1995 and December 2004, and were followed up for more than 6 months.

Of the 54 patients included in this study, 7.5% had facial palsy as their first symptom, followed by otologic signs (20.2% had both simultaneously); 72.5% presented otologic signs before facial palsy. Hypoacusis was reported in 26% of the patients, but was objectively present in all of them. The level of facial palsy determined the prognosis.

In this syndrome, the prognosis of facial palsy depends on the initial symptoms and clinical findings. Otologic symptoms occur more frequently in patients having a greater degree of facial nerve affectation. Vestibular symptoms have a good prognosis. Hypoacusis is much more frequent than reported; as it may go unnoticed in these patients, it should always be confirmed by complementary tests.