The varicella zoster virus causes both Ramsay Hunt syndrome and another common cause of facial weakness, Bell's palsy. This virus is a relative of human herpes viruses, which cause fever sores on the mouth and genital herpes. The varicella zoster virus also causes 2 other diseases -- shingles (a nerve infection affecting the so-called "dorsal roots," the nerves of the sides of the trunk) and chickenpox (a disease characterized by an itchy rash, commonly affecting children). The virus is believed to infect the facial nerve near the inner ear in this condition, which results in local inflammation (irritation and swelling). The extent of the symptoms may reflect the severity of the nerve inflammation.
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