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Use of Corticosteroids in Children with Bell's Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Fabian Peralta1, José Manuel Morales-Puebla2,3,4, Roman Pati5

  • 1Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Peru.

Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine
|November 11, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Corticosteroid monotherapy may improve recovery for children with acute Bell's palsy beyond one month. This treatment shows potential for reducing incomplete recovery risks, supporting its use in pediatric treatment protocols.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Clinical Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Bell's palsy affects facial nerve function in children, with corticosteroid efficacy debated.
  • Current guidelines recommend corticosteroids for adults, but pediatric data is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of corticosteroid therapy for acute Bell's palsy in pediatric patients.
  • To determine optimal timing and regimens for corticosteroid use in children.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 studies involving 750 children with acute Bell's palsy.
  • Pooled analysis of odds ratios and risk ratios using R software; risk of bias assessed with RoB2 and ROBINS-I.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in overall recovery rates, but corticosteroid monotherapy showed improved complete recovery rates beyond 1 month.
  • A reduced risk of incomplete recovery was observed with monotherapy after 6 months.
  • Subgroup analyses explored monotherapy versus adjunctive therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Corticosteroid monotherapy may enhance recovery in children with acute Bell's palsy after the initial month.
  • Findings support considering corticosteroid monotherapy in pediatric Bell's palsy treatment protocols.

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