Abstract
We report two cases of herpes zoster oticus with multiple cranial nerve involvement which is rather unusual among herpes zoster patients.
The patients consisted of a 72-year-old male (case 1) and a 61-year-old male (case 2). Both patients complained of an earache and a sore throat associated with herpetic eruptions. Physical examinations revealed involvement of the VIIth, IXth, and Xth cranial nerves in case 1, and of the V th, IXth, and Xth cranial nerves in case 2. In both cases, the administration of Acyclovir markedly improved the herpetic eruptions on the aural skin and the pharyngeal mucosa.
Cranial nerve lesions in case 2 recovered after two weeks, whereas those of IX and X in case 1 remained unchanged even after 6 months.
Since the occurrence of herpetic eruptions were especially noticeable along the area of the IXth and Xth cranial nerves, it was thus indicated that these cranial nerves were the main target of the infection in both cases. It thus appeared that the virus had spread to other cranial nerves via the communicating fibers.
