TORONTO – Toronto NDP Olivia Chow says she’s been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that could temporarily prevent her from making certain facial expressions.
She said received her diagnosis after waking up with some discomfort on the left side of her face over the holidays.
Because of the condition, Chow says she’ll have trouble smiling, laughing and putting in her contact lens on that side of her face.
Global News takes a look at the syndrome.
What is Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
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Ramsay Hunt syndrome occurs when the shingles virus affects the facial nerve near the ear.
Shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus, which people recover from but the virus remains dormant in the body for decades and can become active again. If remaining viral organisms survive, they lodge themselves in nerve cells.
When the virus reemerges, it’s in the form of shingles, and Ramsay Hunt syndrome is one of the complications involved.
The viral infection can lead to inflammation, according to RamsayHunt.org.
Reactions to the irritation include: paralysis on one side of the face, ear or facial pain on one side, loss of the sense of taste on one side of the tongue, dizziness, and one-sided hearing loss or tinnitus.
In addition to a painful rash, it can lead to long-term nerve pain.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome specifically can cause permanent racial muscle weakness and deafness.
But for the most part, many patients experience a full recovery, the organization says.
-With files from the Canadian Press
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