What is the Cause of Herpes Zoster Oticus?
Another form of this question is: What is the cause of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome?
The main cause of herpes zoster oticus is the virus called VARICELLA ZOSTER VIRUS. This virus also causes chicken pox. Following the reactivation of varicella zoster virus, Ramsay Hunt Syndrome appears.
Varicella zoster virus belongs to a group of viruses namely HERPES VIRUSES. Herpes viruses are responsible from sexual transmitted diseases (STD); genital herpes and cold sores. These viruses can act like a silent agent for a long time (sometimes 10 years or more); and reactivates itself after the first infection. Thus varicella zoster virus remains dormant in the central nervous system before causing another infection.
Within few days, the infection caused by varicella zoster virus may cause an inflammation and bring harm to the 7’th cranial nerve which is the facial nerve that carries almost 7000 fibres that manages the facial nerves. An inflammatory response can be the onset of paralysis of one side of the patient’s face.
Thus a critical part of herpes zoster oticus is Bell’s palsy, the paralyzing effect to one side of the face. We would like to emphasize that this is only ONE SIDE OF THE HEAD.
The reason behind this is the seventh cranial nerve. Both sides of the face paralyzed in cases like brain trauma or other possibilities. Although herpes zoster oticus can cause Bell's palsy, the inverse does not occur i.e. Bell's palsy does not cause herpes zoster oticus.
The possible causes of Bell’s palsy are given below:
- Varicella-zoster virus
- Herpes simplex virus type 1
- HIV
- Influenza
- Tuberculosis
- Mumps
- Diabetes
- Lyme disease
- Mononucleosis
- Skull facture
- Typhoid fever myasthenia gravis
- Tumours that cause never compression
- Multiple sclerosis
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
Today we know that there are several causes behind this syndrome.
Most of the time the progression is extremely fast. Some patients may go to bed without any signs and symptoms and wake up in the morning with partial facial paralysis.
It is critical to know that human immune system does not completely inhibit the varicella zoster virus during the first infection. That’s why the remaining virus may reactivate itself after some tine and infect people’s facial nerve and causing herpes zoster oticus (Ramsay Hunt Syndrome). The reason of emerge of the varicella zoster virus still a controversial issue within the medical society. However patients may experience a complete recovery no matter how the symptoms are severe.
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