Justin Bieber made a startling revelation that he has developed a rare condition called the Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.
The singer is due to perform in India in October this year. It is not known whether Bieber will make a full recovery by then.
Justin revealed on Friday that he has been partially paralysed on one side of his face due to a viral infection. Speaking about the reasons for his recent show cancellations.
In an Instagram video, Justin Bieber said the condition has fully paralysed the right side of his face. “As you can see, this eye is not blinking. I can’t smile on this side of my face… So there’s full paralysis on this side of my face,” he said.
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome – What You Should Know
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is neurological disease in which a virus – Varicella Zoster – causes inflammation of the nerves involved in facial movements. When the nerves get inflamed, they lose their ability to function, leading to temporary facial palsy or paralysis. What it means is that facial muscles in the infected person cannot receive necessary signals to function properly.
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is the viral infection impacting the 7th cranial nerve that is involved in facial movements. The inflammation caused by the Varicella Zoster Virus makes the nerve ineffective.
Symptoms of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
The symptoms include painful, red rash and blisters in and around the ear, and facial paralysis on the same side. Patients also report hearing loss in the ear that has been impacted apart from Tinnitus or ringing sounds. Inability to close the eye causes dryness.
Doctors say that You can get a rash on the eardrum, the ear canal and the earlobe. Rashes can also appear inside the mouth, on the tongue. There is hearing loss, vertigo or spinning sensation. It causes weakness of one side of the face and causes difficulty in closing one eye and eating as food falls off from the affected side. There is drooping of the face.
The Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) is the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. According to the US Centre for Disease Control and Protection, this virus belongs to the herpesvirus group and can stay in the body as a latent infection. The virus can stay dormant in a person’s body and can reawaken to attack the nerves. According to doctors, VZV can get reactivated due to weakening of the immune system. Stress is also considered a trigger, according to some studies, as it depresses the immune system. Some reports also suggest that T-cell dysfunction caused by coronavirus infection can reactivate VZV.
Initially, the patient may complain of facial weakness and little difficulty in closing one eye. The disease fully manifests in a matter of two to three days. Prompt treatment after diagnosis can speed up the recovery and reduce changes of severe nerve damage.
