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Published on: February 23, 2015
[Facial paralysis in children--study of 99 cases]
Insights
Peripheral facial paralysis in children is common, particularly in infants. Trauma, Bell's palsy, and otomastoiditis are key causes, with most cases showing good recovery, often without surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
Context:
- Review of 99 pediatric peripheral facial paralysis cases over 10 years.
- Analysis of etiological factors and treatment outcomes.
- Focus on children aged 0-2 years with higher incidence.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the causes and management of peripheral facial paralysis in children.
- To identify common etiologies such as trauma, Bell's palsy, and otomastoiditis.
- To assess treatment efficacy and outcomes, including surgical vs. non-surgical approaches.
Summary:
- Peripheral facial paralysis affects children equally by sex, with a peak incidence in those aged 0-2 years.
- Trauma, Bell's palsy, and otomastoiditis are the primary causes in this age group.
- Most otomastoiditis cases resolved with antibiotics; Bell's palsy cases showed good recovery with or without decompression.
Impact:
- Highlights the need for standardized evaluation and treatment protocols for pediatric facial paralysis.
- Suggests potential for improved understanding and management of this condition.
- Emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate intervention for better patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Ninety-nine cases of peripheral facial paralysis in children treated at Ste. Justine's Hospital over a 10 year period were reviewed. Sexes were nearly equally affected with a slightly higher incidence in female. Cases were distributed quite evenly throughout childhood except for a definitely higher incidence in the 0--2 year old group. Trauma, Bell's palsy, and otomastoid inflammation were found to be the most frequent causes of facial palsy in that group of cases. Cases of otomastoid inflammation did generally well on antibiotics and nearly 70 per cent so recovered completely. Twenty per cent only had to undergo simple mastoidectomy and two cases a decompression. Out of 25 cases of Bell's palsy, 18 recovered totally without surgery and four were decompressed with total or partial recovery. Following this study, the need for a more complete evaluation and somewhat more standardized treatment became obvious. This may permit in the future a more adequate knowledge of the problem and likely a better management.
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