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Case Reports
. 2018 Jul-Sep;65(3):299-303.
doi: 10.29262/ram.v65i3.332.

[Frey's syndrome in the allergology consultation]

[Article in Spanish]
July Andrea Ospina-Cantillo  1 , Ruth Helena Ramírez-Giraldo, Iris Yansa Castelblanco-Arango, Ricardo Cardona
Affiliations
Case Reports

[Frey's syndrome in the allergology consultation]

[Article in Spanish]
July Andrea Ospina-Cantillo et al. Rev Alerg Mex. 2018 Jul-Sep.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Background: Frey's syndrome is a group of symptoms that include unilateral sweating with malar region and external ear reddening after eating or drinking some food. It is a lesion of the auriculotemporal nerve that is secondary to surgery, parotid gland infection or facial trauma.

Clinical cases: Three children between 4 and two and a half years of age: two girls and one boy. They had self-limiting unilateral erythematous facial macules that reached the external ear, without rash, itching, angioedema and gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms; its onset was associated with the consumption of acid and some sweet foods. Symptom reproduction of was observed in the path of the auriculotemporal nerve. Their histories included cesarean section delivery owing to cephalopelvic disproportion (case 1), birth by operative vaginal delivery with forceps (case 2) and cesarean delivery owing to preeclampsia (case 3).

Conclusions: Frey's syndrome is often mistaken with food allergy, leading to unnecessary dietary restrictions. Sweating is often absent in children owing to possible eccrine glands immaturity.

Antecedentes: El síndrome Frey es un conjunto de síntomas que incluyen la sudoración unilateral con enrojecimiento de la región malar y pabellón auricular después de comer o beber algún alimento. Se trata de una lesión del nervio auriculotemporal secundaria a cirugía o infección de las glándulas parotídeas o traumatismo facial. Casos clínicos: Tres niños entre cuatro y dos y medio años de edad: dos niñas y un niño. Presentaban máculas eritematosas unilaterales en la cara que llegaban el pabellón auricular de resolución espontánea, sin erupciones, prurito, angioedema, síntomas gastrointestinales ni respiratorios; su aparición estaba asociada con el consumo de alimentos ácidos y algunos dulces. Se observó la reproducción de los síntomas en el recorrido del nervio aurículo-temporal. Entre sus antecedentes se encontraban nacimiento por cesárea debido a desproporción cefalopélvica (caso 1), nacimiento por parto instrumentado con fórceps (caso 2) y nacimiento por cesárea debido a preeclampsia (caso 3). Conclusiones: A menudo el síndrome de Frey suele ser confundido con alergia alimentaria, ocasionando restricciones innecesarias de la dieta. En los niños suele estar ausente la sudoración debido a la posible inmadurez de las glándulas ecrinas.

Keywords: Auriculotemporal nerve; Frey’s syndrome; Gustatory flushing.

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