Frey' s Syndrome in a Child without Definite Causes

Moon, Tae Kee; Kim, Hee Sung; Lee, Min Geol

Abstract

Freys syndrome is characterized by attacks of facial erythema and gustatory sweating occurring in the cutaneous distribution of the auriculotemporal nerve. After sugery, trauma, abscess, or other diseases of the parotid gland, the postganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers are disrupted. Some misdirected auriculotemporal nerve fibrils join with the distal sympathetic nerves innervating the sweat glands and subcutaneous vessels. We report a case of Freys sindrome in a 6-year old boy without any definite injury to the parotid gland. After considering our case and review of literature of Freys syndrome in children, we conclude that there may be a congenital defect in the auriculotemporal nerve innervation responsible for cases occuring in children.