Epidemiological aspects of idiopathic peripheral facial palsy

Abstract

Four hundred and twenty seven idiopathic peripheral facial palsy (IPFP) patients admitted to the Otolaryngology Department of the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel between 1978 and 1982 were characterized and analyzed by age, sex and season of illness. An average annual incidence rate of 33.6 patients per 100,000 inhabitans was calculated which is considered to be the highest incidence reported so far, and may be explained by the very high coverage of the "Sick Fund" insurance in the region and by the warm arid climate that prevails in the area. Knowledge of the demographic characteristics of the patients and the population in the catchment area, allowed the calculation of age-specific incidence rates and it was found that this rate increases with age, reaching a peak of 68.2/100,00 in the older age group (greater than 65 years of age). Peak morbidity in young patients (less than 30 years of age) occurs in the winter while elderly patients lack seasonal variability.

Seasonal Distribution and Epidemiology of Bell’s Palsy

“…Literature reports on the seasonal distribution of Bell's palsy are varied and contradictory [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Our study did not reveal any seasonal distribution of the disease, neither in the total group of patients nor when dividing them by sex.…”

“…Leibowitz [18] claimed that younger ages were more affected in the cold period of the year, while older patients were more affected in the warm period. Tovi et al [21] reported a higher frequency of the disease in winter for ages less than 30 years, while there is no seasonal distribution in patients older than 30 years. Adour and Winged [8], dividing the patients into two age-groups, over and under 35 years of age, did not observe any seasonal distribution, neither in each sex group nor in the total of the patients.…”

“…Tovi et al [21] reported a higher frequency of Bell's palsy in patients younger than 30 years and peak morbidity in the 3rd decade. Adour et al [5] and Tovi et al [21] reported a distinct predominance of female patients in the 2nd decade.…”

“…Tovi et al [21] reported a higher frequency of Bell's palsy in patients younger than 30 years and peak morbidity in the 3rd decade. Adour et al [5] and Tovi et al [21] reported a distinct predominance of female patients in the 2nd decade. Devriese et al [14] observed a higher frequency of male patients in the 4th decade and of female patients in the 3rd and 6th Danielides/Nousia/Patrikakos/Katsaraki/ Skevas decades.…”

“…Several theories have been reported, such as circulatory failure in vasa nervorum with secondary ischemia [1][2][3], autoimmune processes [4] and a viral hypothesis [5][6][7]. The epidemiology as well as the seasonal distribution of the disease have been discussed in several studies, the results of which vary and occasionally contradict each other [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”