Harlequin syndrome is a rare medical condition affecting the autonomic nervous system, causing sweating and flushing on one side of the face. It is usually caused by nerve damage, and treatment is possible through surgery or stellate ganglion block. The condition is not life-threatening but can cause embarrassment.
Harlequin syndrome is a medical condition that affects the autonomic nervous system, which means it’s involuntary. It is signaled by sweating and flushing on only one side of the face, often called a harlequin sign. It’s a rare disease that wasn’t named until doctors found it in a group of patients in 1988. Treatment is possible in some patients, but the condition without treatment is not usually fatal.
Typically, in cases of Harlequin syndrome, one side of the face does not sweat or blush at all. The other side of the face, on the other hand, turns red and produces an enormous amount of sweat. In most cases, the sweat is so profuse that it drips down the person’s arm, soaking it. All of this is done involuntarily or without the person’s ability to control it. Most often, it is the result of some form of nerve damage.
In most cases, the exact cause of Harlequin syndrome is not known. In other cases, the person has suffered nerve damage at some point, and that damage can signal a cause of the disease. Some people who suffer from tumors or strokes may also experience the symptoms of Harlequin syndrome. Usually, the face of the person affected by the disease suddenly sweats and blushes without warning, while at other times the harlequin sign appears because the person has exercised or spent too much time in the heat.
If the damaged nerve can be discovered and repaired, treatment may be possible. The repair is usually done surgically, by a trained doctor. If surgery is not possible, a patient may experience repetitive stellate ganglion block. This medical procedure uses a local anesthetic and has been shown to reduce the severity and duration of Harlequin syndrome. Research publications have indicated that these techniques, while fairly new, are the best ways to treat the condition right now.
As with any medical condition, people with Harlequin syndrome should have open communications with their doctors. In most cases, the disease is not life-threatening. It can cause embarrassment, but as people get used to the condition, those feelings should pass. Scientists are constantly looking for new ways to treat damage to nerves and the autonomic nervous system. As a result, people are hopeful that researchers will develop new ways to treat people with this rare disorder.
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