Idiopathic trigeminal sensory neuropathy in childhood

Idiopathic trigeminal sensory neuropathy is well documented in the adult po pulation. We report a rare case of idiopathic trigeminal sensory neuropathy in a 9-year-old girl in whom the territory innervated by all three nerve d ivisions was affected. Our patient presented with an atypical clinical pict ure combining right facial numbness, hyperesthesia, and photophobia. Motor paresis mid pain were absent, the corneal reflex was retained, and complete recovery was achieved after 10 weeks. The clinical course of this conditio n resembles that of childhood peripheral facial nerve palsy and may stem fr om a similar etiology. To our knowledge, our patient is the first reported case of benign, reversible, idiopathic trigeminal sensory neuropathy occurr ing in childhood.