Recurrent Bell’s palsy; a single institutional experience

Abstract

Background and objectives: Bell's palsy is the commonest disease of the facial nerve. The aim is to analyze several clinical and epidemiologic aspects of the recurrent Bell's palsy in Erbil city.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at outpatient clinic from October 2019 to October 2020. Twenty-five patients, who had developed a recurrent Bell’s palsy, aged 17-70 years old, were consecutively enrolled. Neurological examination and lab tests were conducted.

Results: Out of 25 patients, 15 (60%) of them were female and 10 (40%) were male. 20 (80%) of patients with recurrent Bell's palsy the subsequent episodes were on the same side, and five (20%) of the episodes were contralateral to the primary one, of these five patients, four of them were female and one was male. 12 patients had a history of hyperacusis, 10 of them reported in females and two in males with significant differences between both genders (p<0.029). A high number of facial palsy related to the side of the face affected was found on the left side 13 (52%). The facial palsy was found to be more severe in females. Recurrence of Bell's palsy was more common in the first two years from the initial episode.

Conclusion: The study showed a significant recurrence of Bell's palsy more in the initial two years from the onset of the first attack. The recurrence was more likely to occur at the same side of the initial episode and it was the commonest in females and younger age groups.