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Use of Corticosteroids in Children with Bell’s Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Author(s)
Morales-Puebla, José Manuel
Hospital Universitario La Paz
Pati, Roman
Washington University in St. Louis
Miralda Matute, Francis Evilda
Universidad Católica de Honduras Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz
Gavilan Bouzas, Javier
Hospital Universitario La Paz
Lassaletta, Luis M.
Hospital Universitario La Paz
Date Issued
12 de noviembre de 2025
Type
Article
Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert Inc.
Series/Report No.
Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine
Contained in
Facial Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine
ISSN
2689-3614
Abstract
Importance: Corticosteroids are recommended as first-line treatment for adults with acute Bell’s palsy, but their role in children remains uncertain. Objective: To assess the effect of corticosteroid therapy on recovery rates in children with acute Bell’s palsy. Evidence Review: PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched from inception to April 2, 2025, for studies on corticosteroids for children with Bell’s palsy. Odds ratios and risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals were pooled using R software (version 4.2.3). Risk of bias was assessed with RoB2 and ROBINS-I. Findings: Eleven studies were included, comprising 750 children, of whom 495 (66%) received corticosteroids. The analysis across final follow-ups showed no significant difference. Because follow-ups ranged from 1 to 24 months, 1, 3, and 6 months were used as key points to create comparable intervals. The following subgroups were analyzed for each interval: corticosteroid monotherapy and corticosteroids plus adjunctive therapy. Corticosteroid monotherapy was associated with higher complete recovery rates beyond 1 month and a lower risk of incomplete recovery after 6 months. Conclusions and Relevance: Corticosteroid monotherapy in children with acute Bell’s palsy may improve recovery rates beyond the first month, supporting its implementation in treatment protocols.