Published January 6, 2022 | Version v1
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Hypertension Presenting As Bell's Palsy In Children

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Abstract

Background Bell’s palsy is a rare symptom of hypertension. We describe a case of childhood hypertension of underlying renovascular etiology presenting as recurrent Bell’s palsy.

Case Presentation A 2-year-old male was admitted to hospital for severe hypertension. His solepresenting symptom was recurrent episodes of Bell’s palsy The elevated blood pressure was noted incidentally during anaesthesia assessment for magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. He was otherwise healthy, and had not had blood pressure measuremented during assessments prior to hospitalilization. On admission, blood pressure was 220/120 mm Hg, with evidence for moderate concentric left ventricular hypertrophy indicating both a chronic process and end organ damage from his hypertension. The patient’s blood pressure was initially managed with labetalol and nitroprusside, and later he was converted to enalapril (0.5 mg/kg/day), amlodipine (0.5 mg/kg/day), minoxidil (0.625 mg/kg/day) and metoprolol (2.5 mg/kg/day). A duplex right kidney with stenosis of the cranial of the two renal arteries was diagnosed using 99mTc MAG3 scintigraphy with ACE inhibitor, Doppler renal ultrasound and MR angiography.) The patient is awaiting angiography for further management while being normotensive on the medications named above.

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