Acute Isolated Unilateral Palatal Palsy in an Adolescent Girl: Case Report

Abstract

Although reported in children, acquired and acute-onset isolated unilateral palatal palsy is a clinically rare condition. It is typically caused by involvement of the pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve, with presenting symptoms primarily including acute-onset hypernasal speech and ipsilateral nasal regurgitation of fluids. While the etiology is often considered idiopathic, several pathologies, such as infections, trauma, tumors, and brainstem lesions, must be excluded, as direct associations have been established in literatures. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl who developed acute-onset left sided isolated palatal palsy following mild rhinitis with non-conclusive neuroimaging and negative routine serology. Complete recovery was achieved within two weeks with a tapering course of oral corticosteroids. The patient was closely monitored for three months to exclude recurrence and the possibility of other underlying pathologies.