Abstract
Peripheral facial nerve palsy (pFP), or Bell's palsy, does occur in the pediatric population, although it is rare. Numerous infectious etiologies of pFP are known, but up to 75% of pediatric pFP cases are idiopathic. Empiric treatment typically involves steroids and antivirals, and etiologic testing is not frequently conducted. Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) has been reported as a possible cause of pFP in both adults and children. We report a case of a 17-month-old female who presented with pFP and had a history of HHV-6 infection five months prior to presentation. This case may represent another instance of HHV-6 as a potential causative agent of pFP. While it cannot be stated with certainty, this finding lends itself to the consideration of HHV-6 as a cause of pFP, both in the setting of acute infection and viral reactivation.