Bell's palsy associated with herpes simplex gingivostomatitis. A case report

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Virology
• Immunology

Background:

• Bell's palsy is a common cause of acute peripheral facial paralysis.
• Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a suspected, but not definitively proven, cause of Bell's palsy.
• Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis is a common oral manifestation of HSV-1 infection.

Observation:

• An 18-year-old male presented with sudden onset of peripheral facial paralysis.
• The patient had recently experienced symptoms consistent with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis.
• Diagnostic tests revealed positive results for both immunoglobulin G antibodies against HSV-1 and HSV-1 culture.

Findings:

• This case provides strong evidence linking herpes simplex virus type 1 to Bell's palsy.
• It is the first reported case with concurrent positive serology (IgG) and viral culture for HSV-1 in the context of Bell's palsy.
• The findings support the etiological role of HSV-1 in certain Bell's palsy cases.

Implications:

• This research may lead to a better understanding of Bell's palsy pathogenesis.
• It could inform the development of targeted antiviral therapies for Bell's palsy.
• Further research is warranted to confirm HSV-1 as a primary cause and explore treatment strategies.