Herpes Zoster Oticus

Overview

Herpes zoster oticus is a quite common herpetic syndrome of head and neck, that manifests with herpetic exantema of the ear, facial paralysis and cochleovestibular signs. It is caused by reactivation of dormant viral form in sensory and sensitive ganglia of head nerves. Dysfunction of motory part of facial nerve is caused by secondary demyelinisation. 58-years old woman suffering from right-sided hypacusis and otalgia, facial hypestesia and parestesia on the right side and right facial paresis has been admitted to ENT clinic of University Hospital of Ostrava-Poruba. Using the complete neurootological assessment the authors have revealed periferal suprastapedial lesion of the right facial nerve, right unresponsivness to caloric testing with left-beating spontaneus nystagmus and right sensorineural hearing loss with cochlear and retrocochlear involement. Serological analysis was positive. Acyclovir and prednison in sufficient dose has been introduced immediately, rehabilitation has started, patient has been followed-up. Repeated neurootological and otorinolaryngological assesement showed improvement of all signs of this syndrome.

In the presented case-report the authors demonstrate early diagnosed and properly treated case of herpes zoster oticus. They put emphasis on early otorhinolaryngological, serological and repeted neurootological assesement, quick start of therapy and multi-professional cooperation in treatement of possibles complicationes of this neuroinfection.

Key words:
herpes zoster oticus, varicella-zoster vire, neurootological assesment.