Facial paralysis in children. Value of virological diagnosis
Neves, W.E.; de Souza Carvalho, R.P.; da Silva, W.V.
Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo 17(3): 181-186
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-4665 PMID: 166426 Document Number: 92135
Viral etiology was investigated in 26 children, 3 mo.-7 yr old, admitted to the Poliomyelitis Unit of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University of Sao Paulo [Brazil], from 1958-1971, with diagnosis of facial paralysis. Enterovirus isolation and neutralizing antibody titration, otorhinolaryngologic examination, CSF and skull X-ray study were performed. Viruses were isolated from 17 children (65.4%); poliovirus in 15 instances, Coxsackie A13 and Coxsackie A4 viruses from 1 case each. The serologic findings agreed with the virus isolation results and suggested a greater frequency of poliovirus infection. In 3 of the patients, purulent acute otitis media was the cause of the facial paralysis. Viruses were not isolated from these cases. In 15 of 27 CSF samples the cell number was elevated. Laboratory tests for enteroviruses, especially polioviruses, had great importance in determining the etiology of facial paralysis in children.