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Original ArticleOpen Access
Outcome of Bell's Palsy in Children
Dhiravibulya K 
Acute idiopathic facial nerve paralysis (Bell's palsy) is a non life-threatening disorder but
may cause important impact. In Thailand there has been no report of the outcome of Bell's palsy
in children.
Eighty four children with facial palsy were treated at Prasat Neurological Institute from
January 1996 to July 2001. The etiology was found in 9 children (10.7%). Seventy five children
were Bell's palsy. Twenty eight children were excluded, twenty two of these were loss to follow-up
after the first visit and in six the onset were more than 30 days before presentation. Forty seven
children remained for study.
The mean age was 8.8 years (range from 2 years to 15 years 8 months). The maie to female
ratio was 1:1.1. The ratio of left to right side involvement was 1.3:1. Two children had recurrent
facial palsy (4.3%). The duration from onset to recurrence was 6 months to 3 years 5 months. Oral
prednisolone was given in 39 children. Complete recovery was observed in 29 children (61.7%)
and almost complete recovery in 18 children (38.2%). All children recovered within 7 months. The
mean duration of recovery was 6.61 weeks (range from 9 days to 28 weeks). The outcome of children
aged under and over six years was not statistically different. The outcome of early and late steroid
treatment could not be compared in this study.
Key word : Outcome, Bell's Palsy, Children
may cause important impact. In Thailand there has been no report of the outcome of Bell's palsy
in children.
Eighty four children with facial palsy were treated at Prasat Neurological Institute from
January 1996 to July 2001. The etiology was found in 9 children (10.7%). Seventy five children
were Bell's palsy. Twenty eight children were excluded, twenty two of these were loss to follow-up
after the first visit and in six the onset were more than 30 days before presentation. Forty seven
children remained for study.
The mean age was 8.8 years (range from 2 years to 15 years 8 months). The maie to female
ratio was 1:1.1. The ratio of left to right side involvement was 1.3:1. Two children had recurrent
facial palsy (4.3%). The duration from onset to recurrence was 6 months to 3 years 5 months. Oral
prednisolone was given in 39 children. Complete recovery was observed in 29 children (61.7%)
and almost complete recovery in 18 children (38.2%). All children recovered within 7 months. The
mean duration of recovery was 6.61 weeks (range from 9 days to 28 weeks). The outcome of children
aged under and over six years was not statistically different. The outcome of early and late steroid
treatment could not be compared in this study.
Key word : Outcome, Bell's Palsy, Children
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