The annual frequency of Bell's palsy in 16 consecutive years was investigated in a 465,000-person health area in Madrid, Spain. The annual incidence of Bell's palsy per 100,000 population was found to be 24.1. The male-to-female ratio was 46:54. Seasonal difference in the incidence was noted in our series with fewer cases during summer. According to these results, the illness in Spain seems to have a similar incidence to that in Western countries. In addition to this, Bell's palsy does not have an infectious epidemiologic pattern in our country, but its frequency decreases in warm weather.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AdourKK.Cranial polyneuritis and Bell's palsy. Arch Otolaryngol1976;102:262–4.
2.
VahlneAEdströmSArstilaPBell's palsy and herpes simplex virus. Arch Otolaryngol1981;107:79–81.
3.
NakamuraKYanagiharaN.Neutralization antibody to herpes simplex virus type I in Bell's palsy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1988;97:18–21.
4.
JonssonLAlmGThomanderL.Elevated serum interferon levels in patients with Bell's palsy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1989;115:37–40.
5.
TienRDillonWPJacklerRK.Contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the facial nerve in 11 patients with Bell's palsy. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol1990;11:735–41.
6.
ProctorBCorgillDAProudG.The pathology of Bell's palsy. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol1976;82:70–80.
7.
ListonSLKleidMS.Histopathology of Bell's palsy. Laryngoscope1989;99:23–6.
8.
AdourKKBylFMHilsingerRLThe true nature of Bell's palsy: analysis of 1,000 consecutive patients. Laryngoscope1978;88:787–801.
9.
GreggG.Some observations on Bell's palsy in Belfast during the period 1949 to 1958. Arch Phys Med1961;42:602–8.
10.
BluntMJ.Neurovascular considerations in Bell's palsy. Med J Aust1962;1:74–7.
LeibowitzU.Epidemic incidence of Bell's palsy. Brain1969;92:109–14.
13.
PiédrolaG.Climas y salud. In: PiédrolaG, editor. Medicina preventiva y salud pública. 9th ed.Barcelona: Masson-Salvat Medicina; 1991. p. 170–87.
14.
HauserWAKarnesWEAnnisJIncidence and prognosis of Bell's palsy in the population of Rochester, Minnesota. Mayo Clin Proc1971;46:258–64.
15.
MelotteG.Idiopathic paralysis of the facial nerve. Practicioner1961;187:349–52.
16.
BrewisMPoskanzerDCRollandC.Neurologic disease in an English community. Acta Neurol Scand Suppl1966;24:9–89.
17.
LagerholmSToremalmNG.Peripheral facial palsy: a clinical material. Acta Otolaryngol Stockh1971;71:400–5.
18.
MairIWSde GraafAS.Peripheral facial palsy in subarctic Norway. Acta Otolaryngol Stockh1974;77:119–25.
19.
AdourKK.Incidence and management of Bell's palsy. In: FischU, editor. Facial nerve surgery. 1st ed.Amstelveen, The Netherlands: Kluger Medical Publications; 1977. p. 319–28.
20.
GómezJG.Incidence and management of Bell's palsy. In: FischU, editor. Facial nerve surgery. 1st ed.Amstelveen, The Netherlands: Kluger Medical Publications; 1977. p. 328–30.
21.
AzevedoJPMSalaverryMAKósAOParalisia facial intratemporal: avaliaçao e prognóstico. An Hosp Sider Nac (Volta Redonda)1984;8:29–35.
22.
IchigeAAoyagiHInamuraHEpidemiological investigation on Bell's palsy and Hunt's syndrome in Yamagata Prefecture. In: KoikeY, editor. An epidemiological and clinical study on the idiopathic facial palsy. 1st ed.Yamagata, Japan: Yamagata University Medical School; 1986. p. 13–4.
23.
MizukoshiTNakagawaHAsaiMEpidemiological survey of facial palsy in the Nishi Keiho area in Niigata Prefecture. In: KoikeY, editor. An epidemiological and clinical study on the idiopathic facial palsy. 1st ed.Yamagata, Japan: Yamagata University Medical School; 1986. p. 15–7.
24.
TakimotoI.Epidemiological study in the Aichi Prefecture. In: KoikeY, editor. An epidemiological and clinical study on the idiopathic facial palsy. 1st ed.Yamagata, Japan: Yamagata University Medical School; 1986. p. 18–21.
25.
ToviFHadarTSidiJEpidemiological aspects of idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis. Eur J Epidemiol1986;2:228–32.
26.
BademosiOOgunlesiTOOsuntokunBO.Clinical study of unilateral peripheral facial nerve paralysis in Nigerians. Afr J Med Sci1987;16:197–201.
27.
YanagiharaN.Incidence of Bell's palsy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1988;97:3–4.
28.
BrandenburgNAAnnegersJF.Incidence and risk factors for Bell's palsy in Laredo, Texas: 1974–1982. Neuroepidemiology1993;12:315–25.
29.
De AlmeidaMA.Paralisia facial periférica em Petrópolis. Arq Neuropsiquiatr1992;50:60–4.
