Paralisi periferica monolaterale del VII nervo cranico da riattivazione di virus varicella zoster: la sindrome di Ramsay Hunt

Abstract

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is the second leading cause of peripheral facial palsy in children, and it is due to reactivation of Varicella Zoster Virus. A characteristic feature of this syndrome is the triad of ipsilateral facial palsy, otalgia and vesicular rash in the auricle or auditory canal. The diagnosis is clinical, and currently there is no international protocol on its paediatric management and treatment. The paper reports the case of a 10-year-old girl, who presented with symptoms suggestive of peripheral facial palsy and, consequently, was treated with steroid therapy at first. After the appearance of vesicles in the auricular site and having ruled out the other causes of peripheral paralysis of the VII cranial nerve, antiviral therapy was undertaken and, given the poor clinical improvement, was later enhanced corticosteroid therapy. One month after onset, the child recovered com-pletely.