Isolated bilateral facial paralysis revealing AIDS: a unique presentation

HIV is a recognized etiologic agent in the development of peripheral facial paralysis (PFP). In most cases, the paralysis appears in the acute phase of the HIV infection, and its prognosis is similar to Bell's palsy. Other etiologic agents are generally involved in the development of the paralysis in the later stages of the disease. Bilateral facial palsy is a rare clinical entity in HIV infection. Only 19 cases have been reported. A case of facial diplegia revealing AIDS is described in this review. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such an advanced state of the disease in a previously asymptomatic patient.