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A patient with bilateral facial palsy associated with hypertension and chickenpox: learning points

Eslam Al-Abadi1, David V Milford, Martin Smith

  • 1Department of Nephrology, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. drislam77@doctors.org.uk

BMJ Case Reports
|July 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Bilateral facial nerve paralysis is rare in children. This case highlights a boy with this condition, linked to hypertension and recent chickenpox, emphasizing the need for blood pressure checks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Bilateral facial nerve paralysis is an uncommon neurological presentation, particularly in pediatric populations.
  • Facial nerve palsy can arise from various etiologies, necessitating thorough diagnostic evaluation.
  • Hypertension and varicella zoster virus (chickenpox) are known causes of unilateral facial paralysis.

Observation:

  • The case study details a young male patient presenting with bilateral facial nerve paralysis.
  • The patient had a recent history of chickenpox infection.
  • Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) was identified in the patient.

Findings:

  • The study reports a rare instance of bilateral facial nerve paralysis in a child.
  • The paralysis was associated with concurrent hypertension and a recent history of chickenpox.
  • This presentation underscores the potential link between these conditions in pediatric cases.

Implications:

  • The findings emphasize the critical importance of measuring blood pressure in children diagnosed with facial nerve paralysis.
  • Early identification and management of hypertension may be crucial in pediatric cases of facial nerve palsy.
  • Further investigation into the specific mechanisms linking hypertension, chickenpox, and bilateral facial nerve paralysis in children is warranted.

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