Abstract:

Isolated glossopharyngeal nerve palsy is a very rare condition in childhood. Several cases associated with space-occupying lesions, infections, trauma, vascular abnormalities, autoimmune diseases, or neuropathy due to ischemia have been reported. Here we report an 11-year-old boy with acute onset, unilateral, isolated glossopharyngeal involvement. The patient presented with rhinolali and nasopharyngeal regurgitation of liquids. He had no history of infection, recent vaccination, or trauma. Isolated glossopharyngeal nerve paralysis was the only pathological finding in his otorhinolaryngological examination. Diagnostic imaging was normal. The patient was successfully treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and corticosteroids. Children can rarely present with acute onset isolated lower cranial nerve palsy due to inflammatory processes of unknown cause. The cranial neuropathies with unknown causes despite extensive research can be treated with anti-inflammatory therapy and antibiotics, and favorable results can be obtained in a short time.

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