Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a rare otologic complication resulting from varicella zoster virus reactivation that can present with a myriad of clinical presentations. Most common being triad of ear pain, vesicles at auricle, and ear canal with same side facial palsy.

CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 29-year-old male with a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who presented with left facial palsy, vesicles, pain in the left ear, dysphagia, dizziness, and headache resulting from multiple cranial nerves involvement such as cranial nerve V, VII, VIII, IX, and X.

CONCLUSIONS: This case report raises awareness among general practitioners to investigate for Ramsay Hunt syndrome in HIV patients presenting with ear pain with a thorough neurological exam and emphasize on the interplay of different specialties in managing these patients.

Keywords: Bell Palsy, Deglutition Disorders, Herpes Zoster Oticus, HIV