Dysphagia Only with Unilateral Multiple Ulcerative Lesions in Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection: A Case Report
- Author:
Sunwoo HWANG
1
;
Ji Yong YOON
;
Junil SO
;
Hongseo HWANG
;
Hayoung BYUN
;
Chang Han LEE
;
Min-Kyun OH
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- From: Journal of the Korean Dysphagia Society 2024;14(1):66-70
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Pharyngeal dysphagia can be caused by structural abnormalities or neurological disorders such as stroke, meningitis, and other conditions. Herpes zoster (HZ), caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), is a rare cause of pharyngeal dysphagia. The symptoms of HZ usually involve a painful rash with vesicles along the dermatome area, but it can also affect the cranial nerves (CN), such as CN VII (Ramsay-Hunt syndrome), and less commonly, other CN. A 69-year-old man presented with a sore throat and dysphagia symptoms. A laryngoscopy revealed multiple ulcerative mucosal lesions on the right soft palate and lateral pharynx. The patient was treated with oral valacyclovir, and although the lesions disappeared, the dysphagia symptoms remained. While dysphagia associated with a VZV infection is rare, it can occur with the additional symptoms of vocal cord paralysis. This paper reports a rare case of pharyngeal dysphagia caused by a VZV infection, and the patient presented only with the initial symptoms of sore throat and dysphagia without skin lesions or signs of vocal cord paralysis.
