Bell's Palsy Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a 2-Year-Old Child

Abstract

Bell's palsy (BP) is an acute, unilateral facial nerve palsy (FNP) that is a diagnosis of exclusion, sometimes associated with infectious causes. In this article, we described a previously healthy 2-year-old child patient who presented with left-sided facial droop, positive severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), positive SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (Ig)-G antibody, and negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) SARS-CoV-2 (PCR and serology). This is the second reported pediatric case of BP in the setting of SARS-CoV-2, and the first in a child without comorbidities. Due to the positive antibody test, we presented the idea that SARS-CoV-2 could be a triggering factor of the FNP, possibly occurring in the later stages of disease.

Keywords

Bell's palsy - COVID-19 - SARS-CoV-2 - facial nerve palsy - facial asymmetry

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 05. November 2020

Angenommen: 21. November 2020

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
27. Januar 2021

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