Acute peripheral facial paralysis following varicella infection: An uncommon complication

Turk J Pediatr. 2018;60(1):99-101. doi: 10.24953/turkjped.2018.01.016.

Abstract

Hanalioğlu D, Özsürekci Y, Büyükçam A, Gültekingil-Keser A, Tekşam Ö, Ceyhan M. Acute peripheral facial paralysis following varicella infection: An uncommon complication. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 99-101. Chickenpox is caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV/HHV-3), which is one of the eight human herpes viruses. Although chickenpox has a good prognosis, neurologic complications including encephalitis, acute cerebellar ataxia, myelitis and meningitis may seldom be associated with the disease. Peripheral facial palsy (PFP) is an extremely rare complication in patients with chickenpox. Herein, we report a 12-year-old boy with chickenpox and unilateral peripheral facial palsy, who was successfully treated with short-term steroids and physical rehabilitation.

Keywords: chickenpox; complication; pediatric; peripheral facial palsy; varicella.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Chickenpox / complications*
  • Child
  • Facial Paralysis / drug therapy
  • Facial Paralysis / etiology*
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Prednisolone