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Bell's palsy in children; comments on current literature
v01tbms Number
58 2
Reviews
Bell’s Palsy in Children; Russell J. Blattner J. Pediat.
74:
885-837,
May,
Comments
on
Current
and abstracts
193
literature
1969
Sudden peripheral facial paralysis in children is similar to that seen in the adult; weakness is often preceded by upper respiratory infection, with sore throat, otitis media, or exposure to extreme cold. About 24 hours before the onset of weakness and paralysis, there may be prickly sensations and numbness on that side of the face. When circumstances have permitted exploration, the nerve has been found to be swollen and inflamed. In the very few instances in which histologic examination was possible, a hemorrhagic interstitial neuritis wasn0ted.
Bell’s pa.lsy is rare in children under the age of 2 years, so that indications of facial paralysis in this age group are af greater concern, since they suggest central nervous system involvement of a serious nature. Treatment of Bell’s palsy is largely supportive, including protection of the cornea and prevention of stretching of the facial muscles during recovery. Any existing infection, such as otitis media, must be brought under control. In some instances, corticosteroids employed early in the course of the disease have been considered useful in reducing edema, and these agents are thought by some to speed recovery. Prognosis in general is good; however, recovery may be slow, requiring weeks or even months for full resolution of the manifestations. In rare instances asymmetry of the face may persist in the pediatric age group. In the majority of eases in children the problem is physiologic block; in time, the inflammatory and vascular reactions which caused the compression of t,he nerve within the facial canal resolve. Recovery time in the 150 cases being reported ranged from 1 to 6 weeks. In children with Bell’s palsy the incidence of physiologic block is higher than in corresponding adult patients, who have a higher incidence of actual nerve degeneration with poorer prognosis. In children the severity of the initial paralysis is not correlated necessarily with the degree of nerve involvement. Many in whom the palsy appeared to be severe at onset made good progress with complete recovery. The Frequency of Periodontal to 18 years I. Mieler and H. Reimann Paradontologie
2:
lOl-105,
iidobw,
Diseases
in
Children
and
Youth
Aged
3
U&8
Examinations revealed a morbidity of 72.7 per cent lor periodontal diseases in children and adolescents of 3 t,o 18 years. The affection sets in during the fourth year of life. The frequency as well as the intensity of t,he periodontal diseases increases with the advance of age. In the younger age groups the diseases were seen mostly in the acute forms, and in the older age groups the chronic forms of the periodontal diseases were more frequent. In a number of age groups boys showed an essentially higher morbidity than girls, with hyperplastic gingivitis being an exception. Predisposing factors were found to be
58 2
Reviews
Bell’s Palsy in Children; Russell J. Blattner J. Pediat.
74:
885-837,
May,
Comments
on
Current
and abstracts
193
literature
1969
Sudden peripheral facial paralysis in children is similar to that seen in the adult; weakness is often preceded by upper respiratory infection, with sore throat, otitis media, or exposure to extreme cold. About 24 hours before the onset of weakness and paralysis, there may be prickly sensations and numbness on that side of the face. When circumstances have permitted exploration, the nerve has been found to be swollen and inflamed. In the very few instances in which histologic examination was possible, a hemorrhagic interstitial neuritis wasn0ted.
Bell’s pa.lsy is rare in children under the age of 2 years, so that indications of facial paralysis in this age group are af greater concern, since they suggest central nervous system involvement of a serious nature. Treatment of Bell’s palsy is largely supportive, including protection of the cornea and prevention of stretching of the facial muscles during recovery. Any existing infection, such as otitis media, must be brought under control. In some instances, corticosteroids employed early in the course of the disease have been considered useful in reducing edema, and these agents are thought by some to speed recovery. Prognosis in general is good; however, recovery may be slow, requiring weeks or even months for full resolution of the manifestations. In rare instances asymmetry of the face may persist in the pediatric age group. In the majority of eases in children the problem is physiologic block; in time, the inflammatory and vascular reactions which caused the compression of t,he nerve within the facial canal resolve. Recovery time in the 150 cases being reported ranged from 1 to 6 weeks. In children with Bell’s palsy the incidence of physiologic block is higher than in corresponding adult patients, who have a higher incidence of actual nerve degeneration with poorer prognosis. In children the severity of the initial paralysis is not correlated necessarily with the degree of nerve involvement. Many in whom the palsy appeared to be severe at onset made good progress with complete recovery. The Frequency of Periodontal to 18 years I. Mieler and H. Reimann Paradontologie
2:
lOl-105,
iidobw,
Diseases
in
Children
and
Youth
Aged
3
U&8
Examinations revealed a morbidity of 72.7 per cent lor periodontal diseases in children and adolescents of 3 t,o 18 years. The affection sets in during the fourth year of life. The frequency as well as the intensity of t,he periodontal diseases increases with the advance of age. In the younger age groups the diseases were seen mostly in the acute forms, and in the older age groups the chronic forms of the periodontal diseases were more frequent. In a number of age groups boys showed an essentially higher morbidity than girls, with hyperplastic gingivitis being an exception. Predisposing factors were found to be