ArticlePediatrics2022
Differentiating Bell's Palsy From Lyme-Related Facial Palsy.
Article in Pediatrics, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Peripheral facial palsy: contemporary advances and unresolved debates in management from pathogenic mechanisms to tailored reconstruction.Frontiers in neurology · 2026Review
- Exploring the Role of Inflammation and Metabolites in Bell's Palsy and Potential Treatment Strategies.Biomedicines · 2025Article
- Thyrotoxic Myopathy with Nonspecific Ophthalmopathy in a Two-Year-Old Child: Case Report and Literature Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Acute Onset of Peripheral Facial Nerve Palsy in Children: An Overview.Pediatric reports · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesTo describe the etiology and clinical course of pediatric acute-onset unilateral peripheral facial palsy (FP), to define factors that distinguish Bell's palsy from Lyme-related FP (LRFP), and to determine if early corticosteroid use impacts facial strength recovery in Bell's palsy or LRFP.
methodsRetrospective cohort study of children 1 to 18 years old who received clinical care within our pediatric clinical care network (Lyme-endemic region) between 2013 and 2018 for acute-onset unilateral peripheral FP.
resultsThe study included 306 children; 82 (27%) had LRFP, 209 (68%) had Bell's palsy, and 15 (5%) had FP of different etiology. Most children with LRFP presented between June and November (93%), and compared with Bell's palsy, more often had a preceding systemic prodrome, including fever, malaise, headache, myalgias, and/or arthralgias (55% vs 6%, P < .001). Neuroimaging and lumbar puncture did not add diagnostic value in isolated FP. Of the 226 children with Bell's palsy or LRFP with documented follow-up, FP was resolved in all but 1. There was no association between ultimate parent/clinician assessment of recovery and early corticosteroid use.
conclusionsBell's palsy and LRFP were common causes of pediatric FP in our Lyme endemic region. Systemic prodrome and calendar month may help distinguish LRFP from Bell's palsy at FP onset, guiding antibiotic use. Early corticosteroid use did not impact our measures of recovery, although subtle abnormalities may not have been appreciated, and time to recovery could not be assessed. Future prospective studies using standardized assessment tools at regular follow-up intervals are necessary.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.