Open AccessDEMOGRAPHIC AND SEASONAL VARIATION OF BELL’S PALSY IN MARDAN REGION, PAKISTAN- A FIFTEEN YEARS
Author(s) -
Wajid Akbar,
Jammil Anwar,
Adnan Badar,
Mahid Iqbal,
. Asadullah,
Naik Zada
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
journal of saidu medical college
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1819-4583
DOI - 10.52206/jsmc.2016.6.1.733-736
Subject(s) - bell's palsy , palsy , medicine , etiology , incidence (geometry) , facial paralysis , pediatrics , population , surgery , physics , alternative medicine , environmental health , pathology , optics
BACKGROUND: Bell’s palsy is idiopathic facial nerve paralysis of sudden onset characterized byunilateral facial weakness. The influence of age is more on its occurrence. Men and women affectsalmost equally, often unilateral with no side predilection, but may be bilateral in small number of cases.Bell’s palsy has multi factorial etiology, climate factors such as temperature, humidity and barometricpressure have been implicated in triggering off the pathogenic mechanism of Bell’s palsy.OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of different seasons on the occurrence of Bell’s palsy.MATERIAL & METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in departments of medicine, ENTof Mardan Medical Complex hospital Mardan region-KPK,Pakistan. Two hundred and one cases (males91, females 110) of Bell’s palsy between 1 to 80 years of age were included. This study was performedfrom January 2002 to December 2015. Patient distribution was recorded by seasonal pattern, age groups,gender wise and affected side. The collected data were analyzed with standard statistical methods usingSPSS version 20.0.RESULTS: Out of total 201 patients, there were 45.3% males and 54.7% of females. The mean age oftotal population was 36.21 SD (19.97); consisted of 38.03 SD (18.76) of male and 34.71 SD (20.88) offemales. The incidence of Bell’s palsy was high in age group of 31-40 years; 42(20.9%) and in 11-20years; 41(20.4%). Bell’s palsy was more in females 110(54.7%) as compared to male; 91(45.3%). Thecases with left side Bell’s palsy were more 101 (50.2%) than the right side 100(49.8%). The highincidence of Bell’s palsy was recorded during the month of December; (19.9%) and (13.9%) in Januaryof winter season.CONCLUSION: Winter season has effect on the incidence of Bell’s palsy in district Mardan. Howevera larger sample size recruited from multicenter would be helpful in further clarifying the fact thatwhether all these differences are purely due to environmental, climatic and seasonal factors or due toracial susceptibility.KEY WORDS: Bell’s palsy, seasonal variation, Mardan region.