Surgical Treatment for Epstein-Barr Virus Otomastoiditis Complicated by Facial Nerve Paralysis: A Case Report of Two Young Brothers and Review of Literature

Abstract

We report the case of two young brothers with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) otomastoiditis complicated by a facial nerve paralysis. The boys, aged 7 months (patient A) and 2 years and 8 months (patient B), were diagnosed with a facial nerve paralysis House-Brackmann (HB) grade IV (A) and V (B). After unsuccessful pharmacological treatment, patient A underwent mastoidectomy and atticoantrotomy and patient B underwent a transmastoidal surgical decompression of the facial nerve. They recovered to HB grades I and II facial nerve palsy (FNP), respectively. Although rare and relatively unknown, EBV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of children with FNP of unknown cause. Surgical intervention may be a viable therapy with good recovery.