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The image of Justin Bieber's half smile has flooded social networks.
The singer has announced that he is postponing the next scheduled concerts because he suffers
from Ramsay Hunt syndrome:
a condition that has paralyzed half of his face.
"It is a rare disease in which two factors intervene: the first is that the person has had chickenpox, since this virus is confined to a ganglion, and second, that it affects a nerve in the head, causing the facial paralysis", explains
Antoni Plana,
Coordinator of the Neurology Working Group of the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (SemFYC).
The Canadian singer has published a video on his
account where he explains his situation.
"I am suffering from a syndrome called Ramsay Hunt, caused by a virus that attacks the nerve in my ear, in my face, causing facial paralysis.
As you can see, this eye does not blink, I cannot smile on this side of my face, nor the nostril.
This side of my face is totally paralyzed", revealed the singer, showing the effects that the disease had had on his face.
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"It is a rare disease, many factors have to coincide for it to manifest itself in this way," says Plana.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is the consequence of the
reactivation of the chickenpox virus in the form of zoster
, since "once it is overcome, the virus is stored in our body but it does not have to manifest itself," explains the doctor.
In the video, Bieber has confessed that he suffers from major complications.
The singer has experienced a change in taste:
"It is becoming more and more difficult to eat, which is extremely frustrating,"
he has stated through his personal account.
"If the diagnosis is early, the recovery is fast"
The speedy recovery of this disease will depend on the speed of diagnosis.
Unfortunately, "it is difficult to find it at first," explains Plana.
"The patient appears in consultation with fatigue, lumbar pain, or symptoms similar to renal colic", then,
until the first lesions or vesicles appear on the skin, a clear diagnosis cannot be made,
she adds.
Treatment is based on
oral corticosteroids and antivirals.
"It is a slow process, in which the skin lesions disappear first and the rest of the symptoms progressively", explains the doctor.
The sooner treatment begins, the less sequelae will remain.
"Skin lesions can heal faster, the bad thing is postherpetic neuralgia, that is, as it affects the nerve, it causes pain that can persist for weeks or even months, prolonging facial paralysis for up to two, six or twelve months. It all depends on the diagnosis, the later it becomes more complicated the recovery and even in some cases it may not even be recovered", concludes Plana.
In addition to facial paralysis, it causes other conditions such as:
problems closing the eye
that is in the affected area of the face, followed by
dryness
since natural blinking does not occur.
Also an
intense ear pain
due to the infection of the pinna, in addition to the
dry mouth
since she is practically asleep.
"The sensation in the mouth is similar to that left by the dentist after administering anesthesia, in addition, eye protection measures must be taken since the cornea suffers", exemplifies the specialist.
Everyone who has had chicken pox has the virus in their body
This syndrome usually manifests itself in people who have had chickenpox at some time.
"It is more likely to occur in people
over 60 years of age or who are immunosuppressed, with low defenses, or diabetics"
, specifies the specialist.
In these situations, "the virus can remain confined to your body and, over time, it can reactivate itself, causing this painful condition," the SemFYC specialist specifies.
A rare condition that does not have established guidelines.
Specialists point out that
the rhythm of life can influence,
"stress, work overload, having suffered a febrile episode or being immunosuppressed are an incentive," specifies the doctor.
A disease that
is not contagious,
"unless you are in contact with the vesicles in the liquid period, but this does not mean that this syndrome has to develop," says Plana.
As in all, rest is essential.
The singer has canceled his tour due to the need for rest.
As he commented on his social networks: "It will return to normal. It will take time, and we don't know how long it will be, but it will be fine. I have hope, and I trust God, and I trust that all this is for a reason. But in the meantime, I am going to rest".
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