Hemogram Parameters of Children with Bell’s Palsy at the Time of Admission and Their Findings in the Follow-up

Objective: The exact cause of idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy) is not clear. The objective of our study was to investigate the relationship between certain hemogram parameters and the clinical prognosis in pediatric patients with facial paralysis. Material and Methods: The files of patients with Bell’s palsy under the age of 18 who applied to our hospital were evaluated retrospectively. Leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet count, red cell distribution width, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte to lymphocyte ratio were compared between patients with Bell’s palsy and the control group. Information about their last health status recorded. Results: A total of seventeen children with Bell’s palsy and 17 control groups were included in the study. There were 7 boys (41.20%) and 10 girls (58.70%) in each group, the mean age was 11.80±4.40 (minimum 3.0-maximum 17.9) years. While the median neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was 1.25 (0.41-7.63) in patients with Bell’s palsy and 1.40 (0.42-2.52) in the control group, the median mean platelet volume level was 9.30 fL (8.20-12.30) in patients with Bell’s palsy and 9.95 fL (9.30-11.70) in the control group, and the median red cell distribution width level was 12.75 % (11.50-26.30) in patients with Bell’s palsy and 12.70% (12.10-26.30) in the control group. None of them were statistically significant. There were six patients with Bell’s palsy with low mean platelet volume levels and no patients with low mean platelet volume levels in the control group (p=0.007). There was a positive correlation between the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio and the recovery time of patients with Bell’s palsy. Conclusion: Bell’s palsy may show a better prognosis in girls. High neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio may be indicators of delayed recovery, inflammation, and microvascular ischemia in Bell’s palsy.