Shingles causes facial paralysis? Let's learn about Hunter syndrome

Mr. Wang, 67, caught a cold and developed symptoms such as dull pain in the left ear and sore throat. He took medicine on his own. Two days later, he suddenly felt dizzy and unstable. His family was afraid that he had a cerebrovascular disease and immediately took him to the hospital for treatment. The neurologist who received the patient ruled out the possibility of Mr. Wang suffering from cerebrovascular disease through examination, but found that the left corner of Mr. Wang's mouth was drooping a little, so he asked him if he had facial numbness or other sensations, and performed a facial nerve examination. It was found that his left facial nerve was paralyzed and had caused facial paralysis. Mr. Wang mentioned that he had severe pain in his left ear, like a needle prick, which seriously affected his sleep. The doctor immediately became alert and suspected that he might have a relatively rare neurological disease-Hunter's syndrome, so he immediately arranged a targeted examination, and the results confirmed the judgment.

Hunter syndrome is a neurological disease caused by varicella-zoster virus infection. Most patients are infected with the virus due to excessive fatigue and low immunity, which causes the auditory nerve to be affected, resulting in tinnitus, deafness, dizziness, unsteady walking, etc. A very small number of patients even lose their ability to work. Compared with other neurological diseases, this disease has more severe symptoms, but the incidence rate is lower, and the first symptoms are also different. Most of them are first symptoms of ear pain and ear herpes, and some are first symptoms of atypical symptoms such as sore throat, hoarseness, and dizziness.

Mr. Wang developed ear pain, facial paralysis and other symptoms due to a cold-induced virus invading his facial nerves. The geniculate ganglion (part of the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve), auriculotemporal nerve, and posterior auricular nerve have been affected, making treatment difficult and requiring targeted treatment as soon as possible.

Patients with Hunter syndrome often present with the typical triad of peripheral facial palsy, severe ear pain, and ear herpes.

Peripheral facial paralysis is manifested by the corner of the mouth tilting toward the healthy side, incomplete closure of the affected eye, dry eyes, shallowing of the nasolabial groove on the same side, disappearance of forehead wrinkles, and inability to frown, puff out cheeks, whistle, etc. Severe cases may be complicated by vertigo, balance disorders, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, hearing loss, and even invasion of the brain along the nerves, causing viral encephalitis.

Patients with ear pain often experience severe ear pain. Herpes may appear in the concha cavity and external auditory canal, and may also spread to the ear, face, and eardrum. Many patients experience ear pain first and then herpes, so it is easy to misdiagnose clinically.

Once the above symptoms appear, seek medical attention and receive treatment as soon as possible.

In addition, because the lesion occurs in the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve, which is the place where the tear glands are secreted, more than 70% of patients have symptoms of reduced or even absent tears on the affected side, which is undoubtedly a double whammy for the affected eye that cannot be closed. Patients will experience dry eyes, which, if not treated in time, can lead to conjunctivitis in mild cases and corneal damage in severe cases, leading to permanent vision loss. Therefore, it is best to go to the hospital for timely and standardized treatment as soon as possible to avoid delaying the condition.

0 1 Improving physical fitness is the primary task. You need to strengthen your daily exercise and do outdoor sports appropriately to improve your body's resistance. For example, you can do aerobic exercises such as walking and jogging every day.

0 2 Pay attention to rest after work, ensure adequate sleep, try to avoid staying up late, and prevent excessive fatigue.

0 3 According to weather changes, add or remove clothes appropriately to avoid catching a cold. Don't be greedy for coolness in summer, and the cold air from the air conditioner should not be blown directly on the body.

0 4 Pay attention to the combination of meat and vegetables in your diet, eat more fruits, fish, shrimp and vegetables to ensure the supply of vitamins and trace elements.

0 5 Drink more water every day and keep your throat moist at all times to help resist the invasion of bacteria and viruses.