Bell’s Palsy in Children

Authors: Darren Davies, Remy Toko / Editors: Maya K Naravi, Helen Yasmin Sultan / Reviewer: Jon Bailey, Amanda King / Code: A5, CC1 / Published: 25/01/2021 / Reviewed: 18/12/2025

Bell’s palsy is a common adult presentation that is relatively uncommon in children. Though this diagnosis is most often benign, it is essential not to miss more serious causes of facial paralysis.

After completing this session you will be able to:

  • Discuss the differential diagnosis of possible underlying causes of Bell’s palsy in children
  • Recognise cases requiring further investigation
  • Identify which cases need follow-up
  • Outline advice to parents and child

References

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  14. Babl FE, Herd D, et al. Facial Function in Bell Palsy in a Cohort of Children Randomized to Prednisolone or Placebo 12 Months After Diagnosis. Pediatr Neurol. 2024 Apr;153:44-47.
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