Child With Human Herpesvirus 6 and Bell's Palsy: Case Report and Overview of the Literature.

Peripheral facial nerve palsy (pFP), or Bell's palsy, does occur in the pediatric population, although it is rare. Numerous infectious etiologies of pFP are known, but up to 75% of pediatric pFP cases are idiopathic. Empiric treatment typically involves steroids and antivirals, and etiologic testing is not frequently conducted. Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) has been reported as a possible cause of pFP in both adults and children. We report a case of a 17-month-old female who presented with pFP and had a history of HHV-6 infection five months prior to presentation. This case may represent another instance of HHV-6 as a potential causative agent of pFP. While it cannot be stated with certainty, this finding lends itself to the consideration of HHV-6 as a cause of pFP, both in the setting of acute infection and viral reactivation.