Clinical and therapeutic features of herpes zoster oticus: a case report

Abstract

Ear shingles, also called herpes zoster oticus, are a viral infection of the outer, middle and/or inner ear due to varicella zoster virus (VZV). Patients with ear involvement associated with facial palsy are clinically diagnosed with Ramsay-Hunt´s syndrome. We here report the case of a 25-year-old patient with herpes zoster oticus associated with peripheral facial palsy, without other associated signs. This study and literature review investigate the various clinical, para-clinical and evolutionary features of herpes zoster oticus and the therapeutic approaches.