A CLINICAL STUDY OF LMN FACIAL NERVE PALSY IN THE PAEDIATRIC AGE GROUP AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

AIM
1. To study the clinical presentation of facial nerve palsy (FNP) in paediatric age group.
2. To determine the outcome of FNP in children treated with steroids and antivirals.
METHODOLOGY
Tertiary Hospital based study carried out in patients attending outpatient Department-ENT,
GIMS-Gadag, between June 2022 and September 2023. 50 children under the age 16 years
with acute unilateral FNP were selected. House-Brackmann grading scale is used. Patients
treated with steroids, antivirals then outcomes are noted.
RESULTS
• Out of 50 patients→40 idiopathic (80%) and 10 infection induced FNP (7 otitis media, 3
varicella-zoster virus infection) (20%).
• Improvement is noted in the outcomes of idiopathic and infection induced FNP after
treatment with steroids and antivirals.
• There is no difference in the gender, age-group, family history, grading between idiopathic
and infection induced FNP.
• There is no significant difference noted in the recovery outcome between who were treated
with and without steroids.
CONCLUSION:
• Idiopathic and infection induced facial nerve palsy in children have better prognosis
following treatment with steroids and antivirals.
• There is no difference in the gender, age-group, family history, HBS grading between the
idiopathic and infection induced FNP.