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Child's Nervous System

Published in:

01-05-2018 | Original Paper

Childhood peripheral facial palsy

Authors: Zeynep Selen Karalok, Birce Dilge Taskin, Zeynep Ozturk, Esra Gurkas, Tuba Bulut Koc, Alev Guven

Published in: Child's Nervous System | Issue 5/2018

Abstract

Objective

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics, causes, treatment patterns, outcome, and recurrence of childhood peripheral facial palsy.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of 144 peripheral facial palsy patients, under 18 years old in a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Medical charts were reviewed to analyze the age, gender, side of facial nerve paralysis, family history, cause, grading by the House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading Scale (HBS), results of diagnostic tests, therapies, outcomes, and recurrence.

Results

Causes were as follows: 115 idiopathic (Bell’s palsy) facial palsy (79.9%), 17 infections (11.8%) (9 otitis media, 4 varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection, 3 tooth abscess, and 1 group A β-hemolytic streptococcus infection), 7 trauma (4.9%), 4 congenital-syndrome (2.8%), and 1 (0.7%) arterial hypertension. There was no difference in age, sex, family history, grading, or outcome between idiopathic and cause-defined facial palsy. At the end of the first year, our recovery rates were 98.3%. No significant difference in recovery outcome was detected between the patients who were treated with and without steroid treatment. Thirteen (9%) patients had recurrent attacks, and no differences in the outcomes of patients with recurrent facial palsy were observed. Recurrence time ranged from 6 months to 6 years.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that both Bell’s palsy and cause-defined facial palsy in children have a very good prognosis. Medical treatment based on corticosteroids is not certainly effective in improving outcomes in children. Recurrent attacks occurred in 6 years from the onset which leads to the conclusion that we should have a long-term follow-up of patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy.

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Title: Childhood peripheral facial palsy
Authors: Zeynep Selen Karalok
Birce Dilge Taskin
Zeynep Ozturk
Esra Gurkas
Tuba Bulut Koc
Alev Guven
Publication date: 01-05-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Child's Nervous System / Issue 5/2018
Print ISSN: 0256-7040
Electronic ISSN: 1433-0350
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-018-3742-9

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Childhood peripheral facial palsy

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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