Peripheral facial palsy in children. A cerebrospinal fluid study.

Seven children and five adults with acute, peripheral facial palsy were investigated by clinical, blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examinations. Routine blood examinations and blood and CSF serological tests were normal. In all children studied the CSF showed an increased number of mononuclear white cells despite the absence of clinical signs of meningitis in all but one. Two of the twelve patients studied had normal CSF. Contrary to that in adults the outcome in children was excellent, all recovered totally within three months. The present study indicates that acute, peripheral facial palsy is a manifestation of a generalized disorder with subclinical pathology of the central nervous system, and that in children a lumbar puncture should be done, even if there are no signs of meningitis.