Abstract

LEON, ADRIANA; BRUZZONE, RINA; SCAVONE, CRISTINA  and  DELFINO, AURORA. Parálisis facial periférica aguda idiopática en niños. Arch. Pediatr. Urug. [online]. 2006, vol.77, n.1, pp.8-12. ISSN 1688-1249.

Summary Idiopathic acute lower motor neurone facial nerve palsy has an incidence which varies between 11,5 and 40,2 cases per 100.000 inhabitants/year. Most of these patients have a spontaneous full function recovery in the following 2 or 3 months; nevertheless in 15% of the cases sequels or relapses can occur. The high frequency and the psychosocial impact that generates makes it a very interesting pathology. Herpes simplex virus infection has been implicated in the pathogenesis of this disease. The objective of this study is to analyze the clinical manifestations, outcomes, treatment and relapses in children between 1 month and 14 years of age who visited the Neuropediatric Service of the "Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell" with this pathology. This is a descriptive, retrospective study. 69 histories of children who were attended in a two year period between April 1st 2001 and April 1st 2003 were analyzed. In nearly half of the cases a previous infectious process existed. The recovery period varied between 4 and 180 days with no relationship with an early visit to the physician nor with the treatment received. 5 patients relapsed. There are no clinical studies in our country using antiviral treatment in children. It will be very interesting to design one in order to demonstrate its efficiency in improving the outcome and preventing relapses

Keywords : FACIAL PARALYSIS;  PREDNISONE-therapeutic use;  VITAMIN B COMPLEX-therapeutic use.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )