Frey's syndrome also known as Baillarger’s syndrome, Dupuy’s syndrome, Auriculotemporal syndrome or Frey-Baillarger syndrome. Frey's Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that results from injury or surgery near the parotid glands (which manufacture saliva), damaging the facial nerve. The parotid glands are the main salivary glands and are located on the side of the face below and in front of the ear. The Auriculotemporal branch of the Mandibular nerve carries sympathetic fibers to the sweat glands of the scalp and parasympathetic fibers to the parotid gland.
As a effect of severance and inappropriate regeneration, the fibers may switch courses, resulting in "Gustatory Sweating" or sweating in the anticipation of eating, instead of the normal salivatory response. This syndrome is characterized by flushing or sweating on one side of the face when certain foods are consumed. The symptoms usually are mild and well tolerated by most individuals. Flushing prevalent in females, sweating in males. It can persist for life. Some cases are congenital and probably due to birth trauma. The symptoms of Frey's syndrome are redness and sweating on the cheek area adjacent to the ear.
They can appear when the affected person eats, sees, thinks about or talks about certain kinds of food which produce strong salivation. Treatment ranges from reassurance to re-operation. Thus, for many folks, simply explaining the problem suffices. There are other treatment options, in order of increasing aggressiveness. Treatments include injection of botulinum toxin type A. Topical application of a roll-on antiperspirant. Topical application of stronger "drying" drugs, such as scopolamine. Application of an ointment containing an anticholinergic drug such as scopolamine
Surgical transection of the nerve fibers known as "tympanic neurectomy. An operation on the middle ear known as "tympanic neurectomy." The culprit nerves traverse the middle ear en route to the parotid gland; in the middle ear, they are often obvious enough that they can be identified (and cut) with the aid of an operating microscope. An operation in which the cheek skin is again elevated off the region of the parotid gland and a layer of tissue (produced from another part of the patient’s body) is transplanted below the skin. This interrupts the errant autonomic nerves, and places a barrier between them and the sweat glands of the skin.
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