[A case of isolated vagus nerve palsy with herpes zoster].

A case of isolated vagus nerve palsy with herpes zoster was reported. A 31-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with six days' history of difficulty of swallowing of fluid and hoarseness with a painful vesicle on the right ear. Neurological examination revealed poor elevation of soft palate on the right side, but the pharyngeal reflex was preserved. Herpetic vesicles were present on the right concha, within posterior wall of the external auditory meatus. No facial palsy, loss of hearing and mucosal lesions in the mouth or pharynx were present. This is the first case of isolated vagus nerve palsy due to varicella-zoster infection, showing the distribution of the auricular branch of the vagus (Arnold's nerve) in the ear.