Bell's palsy in a patient after contracting COVID-19 with signs of aberrant nerve regeneration

Abstract

Purpose: To report a 56-year-old male in Saudi Arabia who developed signs of aberrant facial nerve regeneration after recovering from Bell's palsy associated with COVID-19 infection. Observations: The patient presented, months following recovery from Bell's palsy associated with COVID-19, with symptoms of aberrant seventh nerve regeneration in the form of tearing with eating “crocodile tears” and synchronous right eyelid closure with the jaw movement. Conclusions and Importance: Case reports of Bell's palsy associated with COVID-19 are emerging, but association does not mean causation. That said, we need to report these cases to draw attention to the possible neuroinvasive propensity of this virus. It is also imperative to recognize Bell's palsy as a possible symptom of COVID-19.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Infection
• Ophthalmology
• Peripheral nerve disease
• Bell's palsy