A recent study from the Murdoch Children′s Research Institute, which was published in Neurology, found that most children with Bell′s palsy, which temporarily weakens or paralyses the muscles in the face, recovered without medication in less than six months. Prednisolone had no discernible impact on a child′s Bell′s palsy recovery, but it did minimize facial nerve swelling and temporal bone damage in adults.

The randomized-controlled study included 187 Bell′s palsy patients who visited EDs between six months and 17 years. Within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms, they were enrolled and administered either prednisolone or a placebo for ten days. The investigation was carried out in 11 EDs using sites provided by Australia and New Zealand’s Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT) research network.

The observations found that 57% of those who did not take any medication had their facial function restored after one month, 85% had it back after three months, and 93% had it back after six. Recovery rates in individuals who received prednisolone were 49% after one month, 90% after three months, and 95% after six months. During the testing, no adverse events were identified. Brief behavioral changes and an increase in hunger were the most frequent events observed.

Experts stated that the use of steroids in children with Bell′s palsy had not been proven. However, knowing that early prednisolone therapy does not speed up recovery may help medical professionals, emergency room physicians, and pediatricians to have better conversations with impacted families. (Hindustan Times, Sep 10, 2022)