Justin Bieber has revealed that he has a rare disease that has rendered one side of his face disabled.
The Canadian musician announced on Friday that he has been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome after canceling a handful of forthcoming gigs due to illness earlier this week.
"It's from this virus," the 28-year-old singer explained in an Instagram video, "that targets the nerve in my ear and my facial nerves, causing my face to be paralyzed."
"This eye isn't blinking, as you can see." This side of my face is unable to smile. This nostril isn't going anywhere."
What is Ramsay Hunt syndrome, and how does it affect you?
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is an uncommon neurological condition that can develop in persons who have had chickenpox before.
The dormant varicella-zoster virus can impact the facial nerve and cause facial paralysis and hearing loss if it is reactivated, resulting in shingles.
Blisters in the ears or on the roof of the mouth are common symptoms of the illness.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is rare, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), affecting about 5 in 100,000 people in the United States, according to one estimate. Adults over the age of 50 are more likely to be affected.
What are the symptoms and treatments for Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
A complete medical history and identification of the characteristic rash and facial paralysis are usually used to diagnose the illness.
However, according to NORD, this can be challenging because symptoms may not occur at the same time. According to the Mayo Clinic, the rash may be completely absent in certain cases.
Antivirals and steroids are recommended once Ramsay Hunt syndrome is confirmed.
What is the severity of Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
According to Facial Palsy UK, timely treatment can make a big difference in a patient's outcome, with roughly 70% of those who take antiviral medicine within three days after onset of symptoms achieving a full recovery.
If this does not happen, the chances of a complete symptom reversal drop to 50%.
Mild cases can be resolved in a few weeks, according to the organization, but more serious nerve injury requires a longer recovery time and a reduced possibility of total recovery.
To aid his rehabilitation, Bieber has stated that he is concentrating on sleeping and doing facial exercises: "It will go back to normal — it's just time, and we don't know how long time that will be."
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