The Epidemiology and Management of Bell's Palsy in the Sudan.

Background: Bell's palsy is an acute idiopathic facial nerve paralysis of sudden onset. It is the most common cause of lower motor neuron facial nerve paralysis with an annual incidence of 15-30 per 100,000.The objective of this work is to study the prevalence and the management of Bell's palsy in the Sudan. A descreptive retrospective cross-sectional study was carried at Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital, Khartoum General Teaching Hospital.In the retrospective, the records and files of 698 patients with Bell's palsy, were reviewed in relation to age, gender, site, risk factors, season, and type of treatment.In addition, 48 patients with Bell's palsy were evaluated using the House-Brackman scale in relation to the above-mentioned variables.Therefore, a total number of 746 cases were studied. Fifty five percent of them were females and the remaining 45% were males, around 38% of them were in the age group 21-40 year. Fifty seven percent of the patients were affected on the right side of the face. Winter was the commonest season of onset where 53.5% of the cases occurred. Steroids are the commonly prescribed drugs in majority of the cases, accounting for 47.3%.

Study Design: The study is a retrospective cross sectional hospital based study. The study was carried out in Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital and in the Physiotherapy Department of Khartoum Teaching General hospital.The files and records of the patients with Bell's palsy in Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital in the years 1/1/2004 -31/12/2008, and Khartoum Teaching General Hospital (physiotherapy department) in the years 2007- July 2009 (total number 746).

Results: A total number of 746 cases were studied . Fifty five percent of them were females and the remaining 45% were male. Around 38% of them were in the group 21-40 year. Fifty seven percent of the patients were affected on the right side of the face. Winter was the commonest season of the onset where 53.5% of the cases occurred.

Conclusion: The study showed predominance of females. A peak incidence was seen in the age group 21-40 years. A predilection was found for the right side of face.