tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Am J Otolaryngol
. 2023 Jul 17;44(6):103987.
doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103987. Online ahead of print. Examining the relationship between COVID-19 and Bell's palsy: Experience of a single tertiary care center
Hira Qureshi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Divya Balchander[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Claudia I Cabrera[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Eve Tranchito[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Amanda Goslawski[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Derek Vos[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Benjamin Johnson[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Nicole Fowler[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Akina Tamaki[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Cyrus C Rabbani[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: While the etiology of Bell's palsy (BP) is largely unknown, current evidence shows it may occur secondary to the immune response following a viral infection. Recently, BP has been reported as a clinical manifestation of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Objectives: To investigate an association between COVID-19 infection and BP. Additionally, to evaluate the need for COVID-19 testing in patients who present with BP.
Methods: Hospital records of patients who presented to a single tertiary care center with BP in 2020 and 2021 were reviewed for presenting symptoms, demographics, COVID-19 infection and vaccination status.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between patients with BP who had a positive or negative COVID test in terms of sex, BMI, age, race, smoking history or alcohol use. All 7 patients with BP and a positive COVID test were unvaccinated. Of the total cohort of 94 patients, 82 % were unvaccinated at the time of the study. None of the 17 patients who were vaccinated had a positive COVID test. A history of BP showed no statistical significance (10.3 % vs 14.3 %, p-value 0.73).
Conclusion: We discovered a limited cohort of patients who underwent COVID-19 testing at the time of presentation for BP. Though there have been recent studies suggesting a COVID-19 and BP, we were unable to clearly identify a relationship between COVID-19 and BP. Interestingly, all patients with facial paralysis and COVID-19 were unvaccinated. To further study this relationship, we recommend consideration of a COVID-19 test for any patient that presents with facial paralysis.
Keywords: Bell's palsy; COVID-19; Facial paralysis.
. 2023 Jul 17;44(6):103987.
doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103987. Online ahead of print. Examining the relationship between COVID-19 and Bell's palsy: Experience of a single tertiary care center
Hira Qureshi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Divya Balchander[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Claudia I Cabrera[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Eve Tranchito[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Amanda Goslawski[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Derek Vos[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Benjamin Johnson[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Nicole Fowler[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Akina Tamaki[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Cyrus C Rabbani[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 37579600
- DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103987
Background: While the etiology of Bell's palsy (BP) is largely unknown, current evidence shows it may occur secondary to the immune response following a viral infection. Recently, BP has been reported as a clinical manifestation of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Objectives: To investigate an association between COVID-19 infection and BP. Additionally, to evaluate the need for COVID-19 testing in patients who present with BP.
Methods: Hospital records of patients who presented to a single tertiary care center with BP in 2020 and 2021 were reviewed for presenting symptoms, demographics, COVID-19 infection and vaccination status.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between patients with BP who had a positive or negative COVID test in terms of sex, BMI, age, race, smoking history or alcohol use. All 7 patients with BP and a positive COVID test were unvaccinated. Of the total cohort of 94 patients, 82 % were unvaccinated at the time of the study. None of the 17 patients who were vaccinated had a positive COVID test. A history of BP showed no statistical significance (10.3 % vs 14.3 %, p-value 0.73).
Conclusion: We discovered a limited cohort of patients who underwent COVID-19 testing at the time of presentation for BP. Though there have been recent studies suggesting a COVID-19 and BP, we were unable to clearly identify a relationship between COVID-19 and BP. Interestingly, all patients with facial paralysis and COVID-19 were unvaccinated. To further study this relationship, we recommend consideration of a COVID-19 test for any patient that presents with facial paralysis.
Keywords: Bell's palsy; COVID-19; Facial paralysis.