M. van der Flier Æ C. van Koppenhagen Æ F.J.M. Disch Æ H.W. Mauser J.H.G.M. Bistervels Æ J.A.A.M. van Diemen-Steenvoorde Bilateral sequential facial palsy during chickenpox

Facial palsy is a rare neurological complication of chickenpox. A 5-year-old girl exhibited a right facial palsy followed by the appearance of the characteristic chicken pox exanthem. Subsequently she suAered a left facial palsy. In this patient both pathophys- iological mechanisms responsible and their relation to the phase of infection are illus- trated. Conclusion Facial palsy as a complication of chickenpox can result from pre-eruptive haematogenous or neurogenous spread of varicella-zoster virus.