Idiopathic Non-traumatic Facial Nerve Palsy (Bell’s Palsy) in Neonates; An Atypical Age and Management Dilemma
Journal Title: Oman Medical Journal - Year 2018, Vol 33, Issue 1
Abstract
Idiopathic (Bell’s) palsy is the commonest cause of unilateral facial paralysis in children. Although being idiopathic by definition, possible infectious, inflammatory, and ischemic triggers have been suggested. Bell’s palsy is thought to be responsible for up to three-fourths of cases of acute unilateral facial paralysis worldwide. The diagnosis has to be reached after other causes of acute peripheral palsy have been excluded. However, it is rarely described in neonates and young infants. Steroids may have some role in treatment, but antiviral therapies have doubtful evidence of benefit. Prognosis is good, though residual dysfunction is occasionally encountered. We report the case of a two-week-old neonate with no prior illnesses who presented with acute left facial palsy. Clinical findings and normal brain imaging were consistent with the diagnosis of Bell’s palsy. The patient had a good response to oral steroids.
Authors and Affiliations
Abdulhafeez M. Khair, Khalid Ibrahim
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP259100
- DOI 10.5001/omj.2018.12
- Views 89
- Downloads 0
Gestation-wise Reference Ranges of Neutrophil Counts in Indian Newborns
Objectives: Blood counts are commonly performed tests in neonatal intensive care units with the results having various clinical ramifications. Interpreting blood counts as normal or abnormal requires reference ranges as...
Delayed Start Protocol with Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Antagonist in Poor Responders Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Clinical Trial
Objectives: We sought to determine the effects of the delayed start protocol with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists in poor responders undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: This randomized cli...
An Accurate Diagnostic Pathway Helps to Correctly Distinguish Between the Possible Causes of Acute Scrotum
Objectives: We sought to identify a simplified approach for the rapid differential diagnosis of patients presenting with acute scrotum. Methods: A total of 440 patients referred to the emergency department of the Univers...
An Unusual Cause of Abdominal Pain in an 8-year-old Girl
An eight-year-old girl presented with a history of fever, nonbilious vomiting, and abdominal pain lasting three days. She was referred from a peripheral hospital for suspected acute appendicitis and admitted to the pedia...
Glycemic Control in Patients with Diabetes across Primary and Tertiary Government Health Sectors in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates: A Five-Year Pattern
Objectives: In the UAE, the comparative prevalence of diabetes is reported as 18.98%, but there are very few studies evaluating glycemic control. Attaining the optimum glycemic control has been a global challenge over th...