Lower Motor Neuron Facial Palsy Following COVID-19 Infection and COVID-19 AZD1222 Vaxzervria (AstraZeneca) Vaccine Administration: Two Case Reports

Abstract

Bell’s palsy is a lower motor neuron lesion rarely associated with COVID-19 infection or vaccinations. We documented two cases of Bell’s palsy in this report, one after contracting COVID-19 infection and the other after administration of AZD1222 Vaxzervria (AstraZeneca) Vaccine. After excluding all possible causes of Bell’s palsy in both cases, we determined that COVID-19 infection and the AZD1222 Vaxzervria (AstraZeneca) vaccine were the causes. Thus, we believe COVID-19 and the AZD1222 Vaxzervria (AstraZeneca) vaccine should be considered as causes of Bell’s palsy.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2 virus
• Bell’s palsy
• AZD1222 Vaxzervria (AstraZeneca) vaccine
• Sudan

Data Sharing Statement

The data used in this report is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Consent for Publication

Both patients provided written informed consent for their case details and images to be published.

No institutional approval was required to publish this case report.

Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that this manuscript was released as a preprint in Authorea under the DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.164787778.85729887/v1.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

The authors themselves funded the study, and no funds were granted.