Increased incidence of idiopathic paediatric facial palsy during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
J Laryngol Otol
; 135(8): 668-670, 2021 Aug.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33975658
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Bell's palsy is a lower motor neurone facial weakness of unknown aetiology, although reactivation of a virus within the facial nerve has been proposed.METHODS:
A prospective study was conducted of Bell's palsy cases presenting to our paediatric ENT unit over a 19-week period, from February to June 2020. Patients were invited for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 antibody testing. A text-message questionnaire was sent to other ENT centres to determine their observational experience.RESULTS:
During the study period, 17 children presented with Bell's palsy, compared with only 3 children in the same time period in the previous year (p < 0.0001). Five patients underwent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 antibody testing, the results of which were all negative. Four out of 15 centres questioned perceived an increased incidence in paediatric Bell's palsy.CONCLUSION:
Clinicians are encouraged to be vigilant to the increase in paediatric Bell's palsy seen during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which may represent a post-viral sequela of coronavirus disease 2019.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Parálisis de Bell
/
COVID-19
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Laryngol Otol
Asunto de la revista:
OTORRINOLARINGOLOGIA
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido