Varicella zoster virus as a possible cause of Bell's Palsy

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on fifty patients with acute idiopathic Bell's plasy and fifty normal controls, all were at childhood age [up to 13 years]. All were subjected of full clinical and neurological examined. The acute serum and mouth wash from both cases and controls were examination for the presence of specific I[g]m of Varicella Zoster Virus [VZV] in the sera, and the presence of the respective antigen in the mouth washes using the ELISA technique. Eight percent of patients were found to have specific I[g]m for VZV in their sera and the respective antigen in their mouth washes indicating recent infection with Varicella Zoster Virus and showing the relation between Bell's palsy and VZV infection