Bilateral facial nerve palsy associated with COVID-19 and Epstein-Barr virus co-infection.
Eur J Neurol
; 28(1): 358-360, 2021 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-804299
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 can occasionally be associated with cranial nerve involvement, but facial palsy, particularly if bilateral, is exceptional. We here report a patient who presented with severe bilateral facial palsy and evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection preceded by upper respiratory symptoms. He also had serological evidence of coinfection with Epstein-Barr virus, which could have also played a role in his neurological manifestations. PCR in the cerebrospinal fluid was negative for both EBV and SARS-CoV-2, which suggests an indirect, immune-mediated mechanism rather than direct, viral-induced damage. The patient was treated with prednisone 60 mg/24h with a tapering schedule and had a favorable outcome, with an almost complete recovery in 3 weeks. SARS-CoV-2 adds to the list of infectious agents causative of bilateral facial palsy. Coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 is not rare and should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections
/
Facial Paralysis
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Case report
/
Diagnostic study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Young adult
Language:
English
Journal:
Eur J Neurol
Journal subject:
Neurology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ene.14561
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