The Senator spoke of infection after appearing in a mask to Congress. The virus has caused facial paralysis and requires attention for treatment
the senator Damares Alves (Republicans) used social networks to explain why he adopted the mask recently: an infection from fire of saint Anthony. According to the former minister, the virus has infected the inner part of the ear and caused facial paralysis.
“I was hospitalized for a few days. I am undergoing treatment to alleviate the situation,” she explained via Twitter. “I don’t even need to explain how embarrassing it is for a woman to go through all of this, so I’m saddened by the lack of empathy.”
According to otolaryngologist Paulo Dorea, a member of the Brazilian Association of Otolaryngology and Cervical Facial Surgery (ABORL-CCF), there are people with the disease who get sequels on the face forever. “We have to be concerned with restoring this motor function because, in some cases, the face may not return to normal, requiring surgery,” she says.
— Damares Alves (@DamaresAlves) March 7, 2023
Experts rank paralysis in numbers from 1 to 6: the closer to 6, the greater the risk that the sequel will not go away. Another sensitive point is the eye: a very acute paralysis can block the eyelid, preventing the eye from closing. In those cases where the patient needs to learn to sleep with their eyes open, continuous monitoring is necessary to ensure that the retina does not dry out or become damaged.
What is Damares disease?
For the infectious disease specialist Adriano Silva, the senator’s case has signs Ramsy Hunt Syndrome. Unlike common herpes zoster, which usually affects sensitive nerves, in this specificity of the disease a motor facial nerve is affected which, if attacked, causes facial paralysis.
“The symptom of herpes zoster, as a rule, is sensitive: pain, numbness and warmth well localized in the affected region. But the facial nerve is a motor nerve, responsible for movement and not for sensation. So, when it affects the facial nerve, you have paralysis,” says the specialist.
This virus is the same as chicken pox and then manifests itself in the body as small blisters that itch and burn. The most common place of appearance of the lesions is the trunk, but they can also appear on the arms and legs or, more rarely, on the ears, as in the case of Damares. The pain is usually local, but very intense.
Treatment, whichever part of the body is affected, usually combines antivirals that prevent the virus from proliferating and corticoids to help restore nerve function.
“If one of the symptoms is facial paralysis, an eye ointment is essential. When the patient goes to sleep, he must use it, because when the eye ends up being opened, it can scratch the eye on the pillow and cause an injury, ”explains the otolaryngologist.
Blisters, like chicken pox, usually go away in an average of two weeks. There are rare cases of permanent sequelae, which can be corrected with surgery. “You need to do this daily monitoring (from paralysis) with electroneurophysiological tests to know the prognosis of nerve function restoration,” he says.
How is Damares feeling?
In addition to the traditional pain of shingles, an ear infection can cause a labyrinthitis-like condition, with dizziness and vertigo. “This disease usually takes the individual out of his productive capacity, because he is always dizzy, unable to drive, work, among other things,” says the infectologist.
Diagnosis is made after serological testing, although clinicians agree that the characteristic blisters of the disease facilitate clinical evaluation.
How to protect yourself from shingles
There are already two vaccines against fire of saint Anthony: Shingrix (recombinant) or Zostavax. “This vaccine is highly effective, absolutely indicated for those over 60 and relatively indicated for people of other ages,” says the infectious disease specialist.
Immunization, however, is not available in Unified Health System (SUS). Depending on the brand and laboratory chosen to purchase, each dose of vaccine (two recommended) can cost 800 BRL.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
