Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (Herpes Zoster Oticus) in A 12 Year Old Child and Review of Literature - A Case Report

Abstract

The enigma of Ramsay Hunt syndrome is that it is an association of an acute peripheral facial neuropathy and herpetic vesicular rash of the skin of the ear canal, auricle (Herpes Zoster Oticus) and/or mucous membrane of the oropharynx. Paediatricians see many children with vesiculous eruptions over the face and the body. A combination of otalgia and cutaneous / mucosal eruptions is not very uncommon in these children. Interestingly many treating doctors are not aware of this syndrome and can be missed easily or diagnosed late. Facial palsy can result if a proper history of a varicella zoster infection is not identified, diagnosed with delay and if appropriate measures not taken in such a child. In this case study, we report a12 year-old boy who presented with Herpes Zoster Oticus (HZO) and timely treatment instituted prevented the Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS).