Vol. 14 No. 2 (2022): Arch Pub Health
Case Report

Facial palsy in a newborn: A case report

Snezana Jancevska
University Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Medicine, Republic of North Macedonia
Sanja Ristovska
University Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Medicine, Republic of North Macedonia,
Igor Isjanovski
University Clinic for Eye Diseases; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Medicine, Republic of Nrth Macedonia
Nikolina Zdraveska
University Clinic for Children’s Diseases; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Medicine, Republic of North Macedonia

Published 2022-12-30

Keywords

  • newborn,
  • Bell's palsy,
  • prenatal trauma

How to Cite

1.
Jancevska S, Ristovska S, Isjanovski I, Zdraveska N. Facial palsy in a newborn: A case report. Arch Pub Health [Internet]. 2022 Dec. 30 [cited 2024 Aug. 14];14(2):101-6. Available from: https://id-press.eu/aph/article/view/6069

Abstract

Unilateral congenital facial palsy in the newborn occurs more often as isolated than in the context of syndromes or developmental defects. Recognition of the etiological factor, the severity of the clinical presentation, the dynamics of recovery are a guide for a multidisciplinary approach, a range of investigations and treatment. In a non-therapeutic approach, unsupported by sufficiently reliable data from the literature, there is a dilemma whether and how long one has to wait and observe the improvement of clinical results, before determining the range of examinations in the newborn. In facial paresis of prenatal or perinatal origin, identical to non-congenital Bell's palsy, infectious and anatomical-structural causes should initially be excluded. This paper presents a case of a symmetrical hypotrophic premature infant with a manifestation of acute Bell's palsy at birth, with negative biomarkers for infectious etiology and a normal brain ultrasound. The newborn underwent a special neonatal care with targeted local treatment. Towards the end of the first postnatal week, there was an evident withdrawal of clinical symptomatology.

 

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