The same virus, varicella-zoster, that causes chicken pox and shingles also causes Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which Justin Bieber recently revealed has largely paralyzed his face.
In a YouTube video, he told viewers that the virus had affected “the nerve in my ear, facial nerves and has caused my face to have paralysis. You can see this eye is not blinking. I can’t smile on this side of my face. This nostril will not move.”
When the varicella-zoster virus infects a nerve in the head close to the inner ear, a rare neurological disease known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome can develop. The chickenpox or shingles virus can remain dormant in the body long after infection. It is unknown why the virus becomes active again, causing Ramsay Hunt symptoms.
According to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, symptoms might include a painful rash within and outside the ear, which can spread to the tongue and roof of the mouth. Because of how the inner ear is affected, those with it may also have vertigo (a feeling of being unbalanced or of the room spinning) and tinnitus (a ringing in the ear).
Loss of hearing in the ear on the side of the face affected by Ramsay Hunt syndrome is another possible symptom. Like Bieber, it can weaken, droop, or paralyze the side of the face the virus has targeted.
Weakness in this area can make it hard to close one eye, convey emotion, or even eat without having food slip out of one side of the mouth.
Anti-inflammatory dr*gs like prednisone and painkillers make up the bulk of the treatment. Herpes family, antiviral medications like acyclovir and valacyclovir may sometimes be used.
To learn more about Justin Bieber’s medical care, you should read the articles we’ve provided below:
- Justin Bieber Postpones Tour Dates To Make Health A Priority
- What is Prosopagnosia? The Rare illness Brad Pitt Claims He Suffering From
- Justin Bieber Cancels Shows After Face Paralysis (Just Updated)
Bieber promised followers that he was “gonna get better” and performing “facial exercises to get my face back to normal.”
“It will go back to normal – it’s just time and we don’t know how much time, but it’s going to be OK,” he said in the video. “My body’s telling me I gotta slow down. I hope you guys understand and I’ll use this time to rest, relax, and get back to 100%.”
Mount Sinai suggests there is no guarantee of a full recovery. However, some people fully recover in just a few short months. The sooner it is diagnosed, the higher the probability of successful treatment.
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