Recurrent peripheral facial palsy in a child with familial Mediterranean fever

Abstract

Background: Recurrent peripheral facial palsy is uncommon in children. It mostly occurs as an idiopathic disorder and to a lesser extent in the setting of some infectious, genetic, or systemic disorders. However, its association with familial Mediterranean fever has not been reported before.

Patient: We present a 14-year-old girl who experienced three episodes of right-sided peripheral facial palsy during a 9-month interval. She had a diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever (homozygous with M694V mutation) and she had been receiving colchicine for 8 years. Recurrent peripheral facial palsy could be a neurological manifestation of vasculitis in familial Mediterranean fever.

Conclusion: Recurrent peripheral facial palsy may be a manifestation of familial Mediterranean fever in children.

Keywords: children; familial Mediterranean fever; recurrent peripheral facial palsy.