Abstract / Summary
Facial nerve palsy in children is a distressing condition with potential long-term functional and psychosocial consequences, making early identification of the underlying cause and timely intervention crucial. Acute otitis media (AOM)-associated facial palsy is the second most common cause after idiopathic origins. The precise pathophysiology of AOM-associated facial palsy remains unclear, and no universally accepted treatment guidelines currently exist for managing such cases. Repeated episodes of facial nerve palsy following AOM are seldom documented. We present a rare case of a 20-month-old girl with no prior medical history with recurrent episodes of facial nerve palsy associated with AOM. This case contributes to the limited literature on recurrent facial palsy linked to AOM in a pediatric cohort, emphasizing the need for universally accepted treatment guidelines and vigilance for recurrence with importance of imaging to identify anatomical alterations and surgical drainage in refractory cases.