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[Frey's syndrome in the allergology consultation]
July Andrea Ospina-Cantillo1, Ruth Helena Ramírez-Giraldo, Iris Yansa Castelblanco-Arango
1Universidad de Antioquia, Grupo de Alergología Clínica y Experimental, Medellín, Colombia. rcv2016udea@gmail.com.
Insights
Frey's syndrome, characterized by facial redness and sweating after eating, can affect children. This condition involves the auriculotemporal nerve and is often misdiagnosed as food allergy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Dermatology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Frey's syndrome presents as unilateral facial sweating and reddening, typically in the malar region and external ear, triggered by food or drink.
- It results from damage or lesions to the auriculotemporal nerve, often secondary to parotid gland surgery, infections, or facial trauma.
Background:
Frey's syndrome is a group of symptoms that include unilateral sweating with malar region and external ear reddening after eating or drinking some food. It is a lesion of the auriculotemporal nerve that is secondary to surgery, parotid gland infection or facial trauma.
Clinical Cases:
Three children between 4 and two and a half years of age: two girls and one boy. They had self-limiting unilateral erythematous facial macules that reached the external ear, without rash, itching, angioedema and gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms; its onset was associated with the consumption of acid and some sweet foods. Symptom reproduction of was observed in the path of the auriculotemporal nerve. Their histories included cesarean section delivery owing to cephalopelvic disproportion (case 1), birth by operative vaginal delivery with forceps (case 2) and cesarean delivery owing to preeclampsia (case 3).
Conclusions:
Frey's syndrome is often mistaken with food allergy, leading to unnecessary dietary restrictions. Sweating is often absent in children owing to possible eccrine glands immaturity.
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