Hemifacial spasm characterized by involuntary, irregular twitching of muscles innervated by the facial nerve, occurs almost exclusively in adults. In infancy and childhood, it is extremely rare. At least 10 cases of hemifacial spasm in children
were
reported in the English literature by 1992.
We describe one young female child with symptom of hemifacial spasm starting shortly after birth. Diagnostic tests such as EEG, video EEG monitoring, brain CT and brain MRI were normal. Our patient did not respond to treatment of three months
with
carbamazepine, phenobarbital, dilantin and valproic acid during infancy. The hemifacial spasm remained unchanged when she was 3 years and 2 months of age.
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