Bell’s palsy in Mosul

ABSTRACTObjective: To study the incidence, sex, age, and seasonal distribution of Bells palsy in Mosul.Methods: A prospective study of patients with Bells palsy from outpatient and private neurological clinic and Neurophysiological Unit in Ibn Sena Teaching Hospital in Mosul conducted between September 2001 to August 2003. The patient's age, sex and time of occurrence of Bells palsy were recorded.Result: the total number of the patients was 469, male patients were 207 and females were 262. The higher number of cases was recorded in the cold months, adult affected more than other age groups.Conclusion: Bells palsy is the commonest cause of lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy; herpes simplex has been claimed as a cause of the condition.Keywords: Bells palsy; facial nerve; facial nerve paralysis.