Bilateral facial nerve palsy associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection with a review of the literature

Scand J Infect Dis. 2004;36(1):75-7. doi: 10.1080/00365540310017285.

Abstract

A case of bilateral simultaneous facial nerve palsy associated with an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in a 14-month-old girl is described. Diagnosis of the EBV infection was based on the presence of 7% atypical lymphocytes, EBV-DNA and seroconversion in the VCA-IgG antibody, an EBV-specific antibody. Although bilateral facial nerve palsy is very rare, approximately 40% of the EBV-associated facial nerve palsy cases reported have been bilateral.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / complications*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / drug therapy
  • Facial Paralysis / complications*
  • Facial Paralysis / diagnosis*
  • Facial Paralysis / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / drug effects
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antiviral Agents
  • DNA, Viral