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Acute profound deafness in Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Two case reports
F Hiraide1, H Kakoi, S Miyoshi
1Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
Acta Oto-Laryngologica. Supplementum
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Ramsay Hunt syndrome can cause sudden, profound hearing loss. In two reported cases, neither patient experienced hearing recovery despite medical treatment, highlighting the severity of this viral condition.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a complication of varicella-zoster virus reactivation, can lead to significant neurological deficits.
- Sudden profound hearing loss is a rare but serious manifestation of Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
Observation:
- Two patients presented with sudden, progressive, profound hearing loss associated with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
- Case 1 involved a 63-year-old woman with left-sided hearing loss, vertigo, pharyngeal/laryngeal vesicles, and recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis.
- Case 2 involved a 75-year-old man with right-sided hearing loss, otalgia, external ear vesicles, and facial nerve paralysis.
Findings:
- Both patients exhibited profound sensorineural hearing loss confirmed by audiometry.
- Despite treatment with steroid hormones (Case 1) and antiviral drugs (Case 2), neither patient showed recovery of cochlear function.
- Neurological examination revealed horizontal nystagmus in the non-affected direction in both cases.
Implications:
- This case series underscores the potential for irreversible profound hearing loss in Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
- The findings suggest that early and aggressive treatment may not always prevent permanent cochlear damage.
- Further research into the pathophysiology and treatment of hearing loss in Ramsay Hunt syndrome is warranted.