Featured Image Credit: @justinbieber/Instagram
Topics: Celebrity
Gregory Robinson
Justin Bieber has shared a health update with fans after he was forced to cancel tour dates due to health issues. Watch below:
The 28-year-old singer took to Instagram to share a video showing the effects of Ramsay Hunt syndrome in real time.
Bieber told his 241 million followers that he was suffering with a 'pretty serious' case of the disorder as after he confirmed several cancellations affecting his Justice World Tour on Friday, 10 June.
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Ramsay Hunt syndrome is caused by the same virus as chickenpox and occurs when the virus infects a nerve in the head or near the inner ear which can cause facial paralysis and hearing loss, as well as painful rashes.
The varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, can lay dormant in the body after having chickenpox as a child or shingles as an adult.
The symptoms were clear in Bieber's video in which his face clearly is partially paralysed. Bieber points to the right side of his face and explains 'you can see this eye is not blinking. I can't smile on this side of my face. This nostril will not move.'
The syndrome is very rare and it is estimated only five out of every 100,000 people develop Ramsay Hunt syndrome each year in the US. Some researchers believe cases go undiagnosed or a misdiagnosed.
Professor Derick Wade, an expert in neurological rehabilitation at Oxford Brookes University, told Sky News most people fully recover from Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
He also suggested that Bieber appears to have a serious case of the virus based on his Instagram video.
"I noticed that there wasn't any movement, so that is quite severe loss. How well will it recover? He's already told you the answer to that."
Chances of recovery from Ramsay Hunt syndrome improve if antiviral treatment is given within the first 72 hours of symptoms showing, however the chances drop if treatment is not given quickly.
The 'Ghost' singer assured his fans he is ‘gonna get better’ and revealed he is doing ‘facial exercise to get my face back to normal.’
He added: "It will go back to normal -- it's just time and we don't know how much time, but it's going to be OK," he said in the video. "Obviously my body's telling me I gotta slow down. I hope you guys understand and I'll be using this time to just rest and relax and get back to 100 percent."
The singer's wife Hailey – who was rushed to hospital after suffering a small blood clot to her brain in March – shared his video on her Instagram Story and commented: "I love u baby."
A total of five shows in Toronto, Washington D.C. and New York City were cancelled so far this month due to Bieber’s diagnosis.