Facial nerve palsy, acute otitis media and Epstein-Barr virus infection

Introduction: Facial nerve palsy is a rare complication of acute otitis media. Despite most cases are assumed to have a bacterial origin, in a significant proportion of them there are no clinical or laboratorial signs indicative of bacterial infection. A viral etiology was proposed in some of these...

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Main Authors: Diogo Cunha-Cabral, André Alves Carção, Pedro Marques Gomes, Gustavo Lopes, Delfim Duarte, José Ferreira Penêda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Portuguese Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 2025-06-01
Series:Revista Portuguesa Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço
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Online Access:https://journalsporl.com/index.php/sporl/article/view/3075
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author Diogo Cunha-Cabral
André Alves Carção
Pedro Marques Gomes
Gustavo Lopes
Delfim Duarte
José Ferreira Penêda
author_facet Diogo Cunha-Cabral
André Alves Carção
Pedro Marques Gomes
Gustavo Lopes
Delfim Duarte
José Ferreira Penêda
author_sort Diogo Cunha-Cabral
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Facial nerve palsy is a rare complication of acute otitis media. Despite most cases are assumed to have a bacterial origin, in a significant proportion of them there are no clinical or laboratorial signs indicative of bacterial infection. A viral etiology was proposed in some of these cases. Case summary: In this work we present a case of facial nerve palsy secondary to acute otitis media caused by Epstein-Barr virus infection in a 3-year-old boy and review the previously published cases on this subject, focusing on clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition. Discussion: Acute otitis media with facial nerve palsy can be a manifestation of Epstein-Barr virus primary infection. This etiology must be considered in all cases of facial nerve palsy secondary to acute otitis media, namely in those cases that lack signs of bacterial infection.
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id doaj-art-3495ae7c7edb4b4fb64588dfd65c26e8
institution OA Journals
issn 2184-6499
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Portuguese Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery
record_format Article
series Revista Portuguesa Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço
spelling doaj-art-3495ae7c7edb4b4fb64588dfd65c26e82025-08-20T02:21:21ZengPortuguese Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck SurgeryRevista Portuguesa Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço2184-64992025-06-0163210.34631/sporl.3075Facial nerve palsy, acute otitis media and Epstein-Barr virus infectionDiogo Cunha-Cabral0André Alves Carção1Pedro Marques Gomes2Gustavo Lopes3Delfim Duarte4José Ferreira Penêda5Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos – Hospital Pedro Hispano, PortugalUnidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos – Hospital Pedro Hispano, PortugalUnidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos – Hospital Pedro Hispano, PortugalUnidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos – Hospital Pedro Hispano, PortugalUnidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos – Hospital Pedro Hispano, PortugalUnidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos – Hospital Pedro Hispano, Portugal Introduction: Facial nerve palsy is a rare complication of acute otitis media. Despite most cases are assumed to have a bacterial origin, in a significant proportion of them there are no clinical or laboratorial signs indicative of bacterial infection. A viral etiology was proposed in some of these cases. Case summary: In this work we present a case of facial nerve palsy secondary to acute otitis media caused by Epstein-Barr virus infection in a 3-year-old boy and review the previously published cases on this subject, focusing on clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition. Discussion: Acute otitis media with facial nerve palsy can be a manifestation of Epstein-Barr virus primary infection. This etiology must be considered in all cases of facial nerve palsy secondary to acute otitis media, namely in those cases that lack signs of bacterial infection. https://journalsporl.com/index.php/sporl/article/view/3075Facial nerve palsyAcute otitis mediaEpstein-Barr virusInfectious mononucleosis
spellingShingle Diogo Cunha-Cabral
André Alves Carção
Pedro Marques Gomes
Gustavo Lopes
Delfim Duarte
José Ferreira Penêda
Facial nerve palsy, acute otitis media and Epstein-Barr virus infection
Revista Portuguesa Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço
Facial nerve palsy
Acute otitis media
Epstein-Barr virus
Infectious mononucleosis
title Facial nerve palsy, acute otitis media and Epstein-Barr virus infection
title_full Facial nerve palsy, acute otitis media and Epstein-Barr virus infection
title_fullStr Facial nerve palsy, acute otitis media and Epstein-Barr virus infection
title_full_unstemmed Facial nerve palsy, acute otitis media and Epstein-Barr virus infection
title_short Facial nerve palsy, acute otitis media and Epstein-Barr virus infection
title_sort facial nerve palsy acute otitis media and epstein barr virus infection
topic Facial nerve palsy
Acute otitis media
Epstein-Barr virus
Infectious mononucleosis
url https://journalsporl.com/index.php/sporl/article/view/3075
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AT pedromarquesgomes facialnervepalsyacuteotitismediaandepsteinbarrvirusinfection
AT gustavolopes facialnervepalsyacuteotitismediaandepsteinbarrvirusinfection
AT delfimduarte facialnervepalsyacuteotitismediaandepsteinbarrvirusinfection
AT joseferreirapeneda facialnervepalsyacuteotitismediaandepsteinbarrvirusinfection