Ramsay Hunt syndrome

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a rare condition that affects the nerves in the facial (VII) cranial nerve. It typically causes paralysis of muscles on one side of the face and weakness in eye closure, turning up, or opening one eye. Ramsay Hunt syndrome can be caused by injury, infection including mononucleosis, brain tumors such as meningioma, aneurysms and encephalitis can also cause inflammatory material to irritate VII cranial nerve branches and cause paralysis. Ramsay Hunt syndrome develops over days - weeks if it has been caused by an infection or longer periods of time if it has been caused by other factors.