tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
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[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Xiang Lay[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Winston Cheung[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Blake Lindsay[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Benjamin Worrall[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Sarika Suresh[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Arun Aggarwal[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Mark Kol[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Atul Wagh[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Rosalba Cross[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Asim Shah[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
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[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Xiang Lay[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Winston Cheung[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Blake Lindsay[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Benjamin Worrall[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Sarika Suresh[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Arun Aggarwal[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Mark Kol[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Atul Wagh[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Rosalba Cross[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Asim Shah[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
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.