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[Crying upon eating: the crocodile-tears syndrome]

R Rodrigues Pereira1, W F M Arts

  • 1Medisch Centrum Rijnmond-Zuid, locatie St. Clara Ziekenhuis, afd. Kindergeneeskunde, Olympiaweg 350, 3078 HT Rotterdam. pereirar@mcrz.nl

Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|February 8, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Crocodile tears syndrome, a rare condition causing crying during feeding, occurs when facial nerves incorrectly innervate lacrimal glands. Treatment options include surgery or botulinum-A toxin injections.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Crocodile tears syndrome (CTS) involves aberrant reinnervation of lacrimal glands by facial nerve fibers.
  • This condition can manifest congenitally or arise secondary to trauma or infection.

Observation:

  • A male infant presented with crying immediately upon initiating nursing, a characteristic symptom of CTS.
  • The crying reflex during feeding suggests abnormal neural connections affecting the lacrimal apparatus.

Findings:

  • The infant's presentation is consistent with a diagnosis of crocodile tears syndrome.
  • Partial aberrant innervation of the lacrimal glands by efferent fibers of the facial nerve (VII) is the presumed pathophysiology.

Implications:

  • Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing CTS in infants.
  • Therapeutic options, including surgical correction and botulinum-A toxin, offer potential for symptom alleviation.

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