Shingles and the Auditory System
We often hear about shingles (herpes zoster), a disease caused by the chicken pox virus.
Herpes zoster remains latent in our body and may resurface as shingles in around one in five people.
In rare cases, shingles can affect the auditory and vestibular systems, which is called herpes zoster oticus.
When the virus spreads to the auditory nerve, vestibular nerve, cochlea or vestibular system, the following symptoms may occur:
- Rash on the vesicles in the external auditory canal and concha
- Severe ear pain
- Hearing loss, especially with high-pitched sounds
- Tinnitus
- Vertigo
When these symptoms are accompanied by weakness or paralysis of half of the face, it is called Ramsay Hunt syndrome. This rare condition affects only about 5 in 100,000 people every year.
Treatment and Vaccine
The treatment for shingles usually consists of medication to speed up healing. The progression of symptoms varies from one person to another.
In some cases, the symptoms may go away spontaneously, or resolve a few weeks or months after the treatment. In other cases, the symptoms may persist over time. Some studies have shown that the sooner treatment starts, the greater the chance of recovery. Other studies have also shown that the shingles vaccine reduces the incidence of shingles.
It is recommended that people with herpes zoster oticus have a hearing and vertigo assessment. If persistent hearing impairment is found, hearing aids might be considered.
For more information, talk to an ENT specialist or an audiologist.