Two young patients with bilateral facial palsy are described. They initially presented unilateral facial palsy, followed by contralateral facial nerve involvement a few days later, together with clinical and serologic evidence of acute Epstein-Barr virus infection. The outcome was favourable in one patient but severe sequels persisted in the second. These two cases show that this infrequent complication of Epstein-Barr virus infection may not always have a good outcome. The pathogenic mechanism of bilateral facial palsy is discussed.