A 29-year-old woman felt a strange itch in her ear — days later, half her face was paralyzed
We're often told that even the smallest symptoms should be checked out and not ignored. However, many concerns are unfortunately often dismissed as trivial until things get worse. A Liverpool resident, Paige Weston, experienced this after she was bothered by an itch in her ear. The doctors told her it was caused by an infection and suggested different antibiotics, but in vain. Days later, the 29-year-old was left with one side of her face partially paralyzed. Reported by Liverpool Echo on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the woman revealed how the diagnosis unfolded and how the shocking turn of events left her with an important caveat.
The woman first experienced a strange itch on her ear, which initially did not seem serious. The mother of two visited doctors, who stated that it might be an ear infection. However, despite several visits and antibiotics, things only got worse. Her ear was soon swollen, and she was in pain. Within days, she noticed her face had started to change, and she went back to her doctor, who asked her to visit a specialist. Weston was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. The medical condition triggered by the Varicella-zoster virus was present in her body before it flared up. Unfortunately, the condition led to partial paralysis of the left side of her face.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles (herpes zoster). "People who are immunocompromised are more likely to be affected and generally experience more severe symptoms. They're also less likely to have a complete recovery," the report noted. In the US, the syndrome affects about 5 out of 100,000 people each year. Weston revealed that she was first given antibiotics for the ear infection. But soon she began to experience worse symptoms, including severe headaches that led her to another visit. However, she began to notice her face changing over the days. "When the facial paralysis started, everything escalated. That's when I was finally told it wasn't a bacterial infection, it was shingles in my ear, and the facial paralysis was linked to the infection," she noted.
The specialist found that she was affected with Grade 3 Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. However, early treatment is crucial for this diagnosis, which Paige could not receive until three weeks after her symptoms flared. The facial paralysis caused the woman to become extremely self-conscious. She would often find herself covering her mouth while she laughed, as she did not want people to notice the paralysis on her face. Fortunately, Weston has already seen noticeable improvement. "I know recovery can take time, but I’m staying positive and taking each day as it comes. I'm not going to let this stop me from living my life," she noted. Following the scary diagnosis, Weston now urges everyone never to ignore signs that seem suspicious.