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Clin Case Rep
. 2026 Jan 12;14(1):e71737.
doi: 10.1002/ccr3.71737. eCollection 2026 Jan.
Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis Following Influenza A: Case Report
Dan H V Tran 1 2 , Xiang Lay 1 , Winston Cheung 1 , Blake Lindsay 3 , Benjamin Worrall 3 , Sarika Suresh 4 , Arun Aggarwal 4 , Mark Kol 1 , Atul Wagh 1 , Rosalba Cross 1 , Asim Shah 1
Affiliations
Bilateral vocal cord paralysis (BVCP) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Viral infections such as COVID-19, herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus have been widely reported; however, influenza A is a rarely reported cause. We describe a 57-year-old male who developed BVCP following an influenza A infection. Comprehensive investigations, including neuroimaging and nerve conduction studies, ruled out structural, neoplastic, demyelinating, medication-related, and autoimmune causes. A transient CMV viremia was identified but deemed a secondary phenomenon due to immunosuppression. The patient required intubation, intravenous corticosteroid therapy, and ICU care. Vocal cord function gradually improved over several weeks, with complete resolution at 2 months. The temporal relationship, exclusion of other etiologies, and spontaneous recovery are very consistent with a post-viral inflammatory mechanism secondary to influenza A. Clinicians should maintain clinical suspicion for bilateral vocal cord paralysis following influenza A for future practice.
Keywords: bilateral; cord; influenza A; palsy; paralysis; vocal.
. 2026 Jan 12;14(1):e71737.
doi: 10.1002/ccr3.71737. eCollection 2026 Jan.
Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis Following Influenza A: Case Report
Dan H V Tran 1 2 , Xiang Lay 1 , Winston Cheung 1 , Blake Lindsay 3 , Benjamin Worrall 3 , Sarika Suresh 4 , Arun Aggarwal 4 , Mark Kol 1 , Atul Wagh 1 , Rosalba Cross 1 , Asim Shah 1
Affiliations
- PMID: 41531680
- PMCID: PMC12794666
- DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.71737
Bilateral vocal cord paralysis (BVCP) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Viral infections such as COVID-19, herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus have been widely reported; however, influenza A is a rarely reported cause. We describe a 57-year-old male who developed BVCP following an influenza A infection. Comprehensive investigations, including neuroimaging and nerve conduction studies, ruled out structural, neoplastic, demyelinating, medication-related, and autoimmune causes. A transient CMV viremia was identified but deemed a secondary phenomenon due to immunosuppression. The patient required intubation, intravenous corticosteroid therapy, and ICU care. Vocal cord function gradually improved over several weeks, with complete resolution at 2 months. The temporal relationship, exclusion of other etiologies, and spontaneous recovery are very consistent with a post-viral inflammatory mechanism secondary to influenza A. Clinicians should maintain clinical suspicion for bilateral vocal cord paralysis following influenza A for future practice.
Keywords: bilateral; cord; influenza A; palsy; paralysis; vocal.