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Symptomatic palatal myoclonus with ear click after tick-borne meningoencephalitis

Robert Pogorzelski1, Wieslaw Drozdowski, Marek Rogowski

  • 1Department of Neurology, Medical University of Bialystok, 24 A Sklodowska-Curie Str., 15-267 , Bialystok, Poland. robertp@amb.edu.pl

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology : Official Journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : Affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
|May 17, 2006
PubMed

Insights

This case study details a patient experiencing rhythmic head sounds after tick-borne meningoencephalitis. Botulinum toxin injections effectively treated the resulting palatal myoclonus (PM).

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Tick-borne meningoencephalitis (TBE) can lead to rare neurological sequelae.
  • Palatal myoclonus (PM) is characterized by involuntary rhythmic contractions of the soft palate.

Observation:

  • A 39-year-old patient developed subjective ear clicking and objective rhythmic soft palate oscillations post-TBE treatment.
  • Electromyography confirmed continuous motor unit activity in the tensor veli palatini muscle, indicative of PM.

Findings:

  • The patient's palatal myoclonus, associated with tick-borne meningoencephalitis, was diagnosed.
  • Medication was ineffective, but botulinum toxin injections provided significant symptom relief and were well-tolerated over a 5-year follow-up.

Implications:

  • Botulinum toxin is a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic palatal myoclonus.
  • This case highlights a potential neurological complication of tick-borne meningoencephalitis and its successful management.

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