[Benign paralysis of the 6th cranial nerve in children].
Acquired sixth nerve palsies in infants and children that occur without fever primarily suggest a tumor or intracranial hypertension. In a few instances, the cause is benign and spontaneous recovery occurs although relapses are occasionally seen. We report seven episodes of benign sixth nerve palsy in four children aged 5 1/2 months to 8 1/2 years. An ENT infection was the precipitating factor in four of these seven episodes. Recovery consistently occurred within 4 days to 6 weeks. None of the children had residual oculomotor impairment. The various etiologic hypotheses put forward in the literature are discussed. No study provides a pathophysiologic explanation for these transient palsies.
Service des Maladies Infectieuses et de Neurologie Infantiles, CHU, Hôpital, Lille.
L
L
Vallée
F
F
Guilbert
J F
JF
Lemaitre
J P
JP
Nuyts
D000010:Abducens Nerve; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications; D004172:Diplopia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence
La paralysie bénigne de la vie paire crânienne chez l'enfant.