Facial palsy treatment series for children I: Overview of facial palsy in children

  Facial palsy may be present in newborns at birth, but it is rare. The incidence of facial palsy in newborns is about 2.1/1000 in developed countries, but no specific figures are available in China. The incidence of facial palsy increases significantly in childhood, to approximately 6.6/100,000, with Bell’s palsy, acute otitis media and Lyme disease as the main causes.  Death in children due to facial palsy is extremely rare, but the sequelae of facial palsy, such as reduced eye protection, oral insufficiency, and lack of normal facial expression, can be very devastating to both childhood growth and the affected family.  Treatment for facial palsy in children includes pediatric specialty medication, physical rehabilitation, psychosocial care and encouragement, and surgical intervention.  Although I am primarily involved in the surgical treatment of facial palsy in children. However, there is no doubt that all treatments involving facial palsy in children should not be a single model. A reasonable treatment plan should be a choice made by both the physician and the family of the child.  The surgical treatment of facial palsy in children will always be a topic of debate. The value of any surgical treatment measures in the childhood stage can only be measured decades later for life growth, and this series will continue to present successful surgical treatments for facial palsy in children.  The Microsurgery Repair and Facial Paralysis Functional Reconstruction Team is willing to work with you to overcome facial paralysis