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Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2011; 09(03): 419-421
DOI: 10.3233/JPN-2011-0505
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

Human metapneumovirus associated with facial nerve paralysis

Chris Myers
a   Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California, USA
,
Jason Brown
a   Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California, USA
,
Michelle G. Arnold
b   Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Calfornia, USA
,
John C. Arnold
c   Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California, USA
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Publication History

17 September 2010

15 December 2010

Publication Date:
30 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Facial nerve paralysis in childhood is commonly caused by acute ear infections and Lyme disease. A number of respiratory viruses have also been associated with acute facial nerve weakness. First described as a common cause of respiratory infection in 2001, human metapneumovirus has now also been associated with abnormalities of the central nervous system, such as seizures and encephalitis. We describe a case of acute facial nerve palsy in which human metapneumovirus was the only pathogen identified, using sophisticated molecular diagnostics.

Keywords

Human metapneumovirus - facial nerve palsy - rapid diagnostics - resequencing microarray