VARIZELLA ZOSTER INFECTION WITH INVOLVEME NT OF THE GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL AND VAGAL NERVES

Involvement of the glossopharyngeal and the vagal nerves in an underly ing varicella tester infection is a rare manifestation. We describe tw o patients who presented with pain in the auricular region, hoarseness , disturbance of swallowing and an unilateral paresis of the pharynx. In the first patient typical grouped herpetiform blisters in the left ear representing the sensory area of the left vagal nerve appeared. CS F examination revealed marked lymphocytic pleocytosis. The second Pati ent presented with a ''zoster sine herpete'' of the right IX and X cra nial nerves. In both cases the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of specific intrathecal antibody synthesis with an elevated antigen specific antibody index from cerebro-spinal fluid and serum.