Essential Palatal Tremor Following COVID-19 Vaccine: A Case Report

Palatal tremor (PT) is an infrequent disorder characterized by abnormal movement distinguished into symptomatic palatal tremor (SPT) and essential palatal tremor (EPT). SPT can have various causes, including damage to the Guillain-Mollaret triangle and hypertrophy of the inferior olive. In contrast, EPT is often associated with clicking sounds in the ears with normal imaging results and may have a functional origin. We describe a case of a 20-year-old girl presenting with clinical symptoms of PT two days after receiving the SARS-CoV-2 AstraZeneca vaccine. The patient had persistent audible clicks associated with rhythmic contractions of the soft palate. Complete resolution of symptoms occurred two days after the administration of oral clonazepam. This is the first known case of PT caused by the SARS-CoV-2 AstraZeneca vaccine.