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Indian Pediatr 2014;51: 499 |
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Isolated Bilateral Abducent Nerve Palsy in
Infectious Mononucleosis
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Sukanta Nandi and Arnab Biswas
Department of Pediatric Medicine, Institute of Post
Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata,
West Bengal, India.
Email:
[email protected]
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A 7-year-old boy presented with fever for 10 days,
along with sore throat, cough, headache and occasional vomiting. A
maculopapular rash developed all over the body on day-4 of illness, and
on on day-8 of illness, child developed diplopia. There was no history
of convulsions, altered sensorium, head trauma, or any joint pain or
swelling. Examination revealed, generalized tender lymphadenopathy,
hepatosplenomegaly and swelling of both upper eyelids. Neurological
examination revealed bilateral lateral rectus palsy without any other
cranial nerve involvement, no meningial sign, and normal size and
reaction of both pupils. Investigations were: hemoglobin 9.9 g/dL, total
leucocyte count 13200/mm 3
(N37, L59, few atypical lymphocytes), and platelet count 152000/mm3.
Liver function tests were normal. Dengue serology, malarial antigen,
malaria parasite and Widal test were negative. Fundoscopy was normal.
Examination of CSF showed 6 cells/ mm3
(all lymphocytes), protein 52 mg/dL and glucose 82 mg/dL. Anti-Viral
Capsid antigen (VCA) IgM antibody in serum for Epstein Barr virus (EBV)
was 84 mIU/mL (Normal <8 mIU/mL). Magnetic resonance imaging of brain,
including angiography was normal. Child was prescribed oral Co-amoxyclav
and antipyretics for 5 days. Child became afebrile by 15th day, and
diplopia began to improve on seventeenth day. After 4 weeks, marked
improvement of opthalmoplegia was noted.
Single or multiple cranial nerve palsy may occur in
infectious mononucleosis infectious mononucleosis but isolated bilateral
6th cranial nerve involvement is very rare. Other causes of cranial
nerve palsy, including head trauma, vasculitis and multiple sclerosis
were considered but no clue was found regarding any of these etiologies.
Bilateral 6th cranial nerve palsy in infectious mononucleosis can be due
to immunological mechanism; rapid reversal of neurodeficit can occur
[3]. Short course of prednisolone may be helpful for such complications
in infectious mononucleosis but no definite evidence regarding efficacy
of corticosteroid therapy is available till date [4].
To conclude, bilateral 6th cranial nerve palsy may be
the isolated neurological finding in children with IM, without any other
features of brainstem involvement or encephalitis. It seems to have a
good prognosis with only supportive measures.
References
1. Neuberger J, Bone I. Bilateral sixth cranial nerve
palsy in infectious mononucleosis. Postgrad Med J. 1979;55: 433-4.
2. Salazar A, Martinez H, Sotelo J.
Opthalmoplegic polyneuropathy associated with infectious mononucleosis.
Ann Neurol. 1983;13:219-20.
3. Friedland R, Yahr. Meningoencephalopathy secondary
to infectious mononucleosis. Arch Neurol. 1977;34:186.
4. Jenson Hall B. Epstein-Barr Virus. In:
Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, Schor NF, Behrman RE, editors.
Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier;
2011.p.1110-4.
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