Facial nerve palsy in children: clinical aspects of diagnosis and treatment

Acta Otolaryngol Suppl. 1994:511:150-2. doi: 10.3109/00016489409128321.

Abstract

Eighty-two children with facial palsy aged less than 6 years were examined. Sixty-four cases, excluding patients with congenital and traumatic palsy, were distributed through the ages, but a predominant tendency to symptomatic palsy for cases aged less than 2 years was observed. Facial movement scoring was not practical in prognostic diagnosis in cases aged under 4 years, while ENoG was useful in all age-groups. Of 58 cases of acute peripheral facial palsy, 29 were observed clinically but given no treatment, 9 were given steroids, and 16 were given vitamins and other drugs. In the patients with acute peripheral facial palsy in whom a follow up study was performed, 56 cases (96.6%) showed complete recovery. The time of recovery was independent of treatment. Facial palsy in children is considered to have a good prognosis regardless of treatment. Steroid administration thus does not appear to be necessary in children with acute facial palsy.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Audiometry
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Electrodiagnosis
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Facial Muscles / physiopathology
  • Facial Paralysis / diagnosis*
  • Facial Paralysis / drug therapy
  • Facial Paralysis / therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Prognosis
  • Reflex, Acoustic / physiology
  • Stapes / physiopathology
  • Steroids / therapeutic use
  • Time Factors
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Steroids
  • Vitamins