Ramsay Hunt Syndrome With Multiple Cranial Neuropathies, Meningitis, and Subsequent Brainstem Encephalitis: A Case Report

We present a case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome in a previously healthy 49-year-old male, complicated by ipsilateral glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory, and hypoglossal nerve palsies, along with meningitis. Despite a course of antiviral therapy and steroids for meningitis, the patient experienced a relapse, developing varicella-zoster virus (VZV) brainstem encephalitis after an initial period of stability. Hunt syndrome can be encountered in otolaryngology and internal medicine, dermatology, and other specialties. We report a case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome complicated by multiple cranial neuropathies and Hunt syndrome-associated meningitis and encephalitis, accompanied by a literature review.