COVID-19 as a rare cause of facial nerve neuritis in a pediatric patient

Sultan Zain; Kalliopi Petropoulou; Kanish Mirchia; Abdelmohsen Hussien; Kavya Mirchia

doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2021.03.063

COVID-19 as a rare cause of facial nerve neuritis in a pediatric patient

Radiol Case Rep. 2021 Jun;16(6):1400-1404. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2021.03.063. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Authors

Sultan Zain¹, Kalliopi Petropoulou², Kanish Mirchia³, Abdelmohsen Hussien², Kavya Mirchia²

Affiliations

¹ College of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 E Adams St, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
² Department of Radiology, Upstate University Hospital, 750 E Adams St, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
³ Department of Pathology, Upstate University Hospital, 750 E Adams St, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.

Abstract

COVID-19 has been noted to present with neurological symptoms in nearly 30% of patients. While children are more likely to be asymptomatic, neurological involvement has been observed. We present the case of a 23-month-old previously healthy female who was brought to the emergency room for a new-onset facial droop. The patient tested positive for COVID-19 but was otherwise asymptomatic. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with and without contrast revealed abnormal enhancement along the canalicular segment of the right cranial VII extending to the first genu suggestive of cranial nerve neuritis. Given that our case involves a pediatric patient with no significant comorbidities presenting with facial drop, COVID-19 should be considered on the differential when evaluating causes of new onset peripheral nerve palsies.

Keywords: COVID-19; facial nerve palsy; magnetic resonance imaging; neuritis; neuroradiology; pediatric.

Publication types

Case Reports