Familial auriculotemporal nerve (Frey) syndrome

Abstract

Auriculotemporal nerve (Frey) syndrome in children is rare, and may be misdiagnosed as food allergy. Trauma to the auriculotemporal nerve during forceps-assisted delivery has been implicated in about half of the reported childhood Frey syndrome cases and most patients present with unilateral involvement. We describe two Caucasian sisters with bilateral Frey syndrome, neither of whom was delivered with forceps assistance, and highlight its distinction from food allergy. Frey syndrome may occur in a familial pattern, and in the absence of a history of perinatal trauma.