Open AccessFacial nerve paralysis in children
Author(s) -
Andrea Ciorba,
Virginia Corazzi,
Veronica Conz,
Chiara Bianchini,
Claudia Aimoni
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
world journal of clinical cases
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.368
H-Index - 10
ISSN - 2307-8960
DOI - 10.12998/wjcc.v3.i12.973
Subject(s) - medicine , etiology , paralysis , palsy , facial nerve , pediatrics , facial paralysis , facial nerve palsy , differential diagnosis , surgery , pathology , alternative medicine
Facial nerve palsy is a condition with several implications, particularly when occurring in childhood. It represents a serious clinical problem as it causes significant concerns in doctors because of its etiology, its treatment options and its outcome, as well as in little patients and their parents, because of functional and aesthetic outcomes. There are several described causes of facial nerve paralysis in children, as it can be congenital (due to delivery traumas and genetic or malformative diseases) or acquired (due to infective, inflammatory, neoplastic, traumatic or iatrogenic causes). Nonetheless, in approximately 40%-75% of the cases, the cause of unilateral facial paralysis still remains idiopathic. A careful diagnostic workout and differential diagnosis are particularly recommended in case of pediatric facial nerve palsy, in order to establish the most appropriate treatment, as the therapeutic approach differs in relation to the etiology.