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Increased incidence of idiopathic paediatric facial palsy during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
- Source :
- Journal of Laryngology & Otology; Aug2021, Vol. 135 Issue 8, p668-670, 3p
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00222151
- Volume :
- 135
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Laryngology & Otology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 151736317
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215121001353