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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU 2021; 11(03): 196-198
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1723053
Case Report

Atypical Acute Retroviral Syndrome Presenting as a Facial Palsy

Boomer Olsen 
1   Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, United States
,
Ekaphol Wooden
1   Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, United States
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Abstract

Acute retroviral syndrome (ARS) refers to signs and symptoms present during acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Historically, ARS has been characterized as a mononucleosis-like illness. However, ARS may present with typical (i.e., mononucleosis-like) or atypical signs and symptoms. Here, we review typical and atypical ARS and discuss a 30-year-old man who first presented with a facial palsy and returned 2 years later with oral hairy leukoplakia, at which time he was found to have HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We suggest that facial palsies should pique clinical suspicion for HIV, especially in the context of recent or concurrent flu- or mononucleosis-like illness.

Keywords

HIV - acute retroviral syndrome - Bell’s palsy - facial palsy - oral hairy leukoplakia


Publication History

Article published online:
10 February 2021

© 2021. Nitte University (Deemed to be University). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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