Acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese medicine treatment for Ramsay Hunt syndrome: a case report
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Abstract
We present a case of a 42-year-old Thai female patiented at the Huachiew Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic with the pain around her right ear and the appearance of blisters in the same area for one week. She also had facial paralysis on the right side. She was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. This condition arises from inflammation of the 7th cranial nerve due to infection by the Varicella zoster virus. The incidence of this disease is rare, but there is a risk of permanent facial muscle weakness or deafness as a complication. Her symptoms included an incomplete closure of the right eyelid, a noticeable droop at the right corner of her mouth, and an inability to squeeze her forehead or scrunch her nose. She had speaking difficulty and tinnitus, facial paralysis at level 6. The treatment involved acupuncture and continuous Chinese herbal medicine therapy for two months. The results showed significant improvement: the facial paralysis on the right side was resolved. She was able to fully close her eyelid, scrunch her nose, and raise her eyebrows normally. Her speech and taste returned to normal, the pain and blisters around the ear had disappeared, and the tinnitus was reduced. No post-herpetic neuralgia was observed.
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References
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