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A Case of Idiopathic Acquired Neonatal Bell's Palsy
Alyson R Pierick1, Elan Jenkins1,2
1Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Insights
Neonatal idiopathic Bell's palsy is rare. This case report details a 16-day-old infant treated successfully with oral prednisone, showing symptom resolution.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neonatology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Neonatal idiopathic Bell's palsy is exceptionally rare, with limited evidence supporting corticosteroid treatment in infants.
- Existing data on steroid efficacy in pediatric Bell's palsy is equivocal, and common infant causes differ from adults.
Observation:
- Presents the third case report of acute Bell's palsy in a 16-day-old infant.
- The infant had a negative infectious workup and normal brain imaging, ruling out other causes.
- The infant received a 7-day course of oral prednisone.
Findings:
- The infant experienced complete resolution of Bell's palsy symptoms following oral corticosteroid treatment.
- This case adds to the limited evidence suggesting potential benefit of steroids in select neonatal cases.
Implications:
- Suggests oral corticosteroids may be a viable treatment option for neonatal idiopathic Bell's palsy after excluding other causes.
- Highlights the need for further research into the efficacy and safety of steroids for Bell's palsy in neonates.
- Contributes to the understanding of rare neurological conditions in newborns.
Abstract:
Neonatal idiopathic Bell's palsy is a very rare diagnosis with only a few previously published case reports of infants responding well to oral corticosteroid use. This trial therapy likely comes from adult data where clinical outcomes are improved following steroid use, although the data in childhood cases are equivocal. In this specific population of infants <28 days of age at presentation, the most common causes of Bell's palsy include congenital, birth trauma, and syndromic (likely with no indication for steroid treatment). In those with noncongenital Bell's palsy, infectious and structural causes should first be ruled out. In this article, we present the third known case report of a 16-day-old presenting with acute Bell's palsy with negative infectious workup and normal brain imaging. He was treated with a 7-day course of oral prednisone and had eventual resolution of symptoms.
