1979 Volume 25 Issue 1Supplement1 Pages 175-179
A statistical analysis was perfomed in 128 cases of the facial palsy experienced in our clinic from Jan. 1975 to Dec. 1978. Sixty-four (50%) cases were diagnosed as Bell's palsy and 30 cases (23%) as Hunt syndrome.
The incidence of Hunt syndrome in our cases was 2-11 times higher than those reported by other authors. Of our 30 cases of Hunt's syndrome, 28 had vesicular rashes (auricle: 26, face: 4, upper arm: 1). While the appearance of Zoster eruption preceded facial palsy in a larger number of cases (12/ 23), facial palsy preceded in 7 cases and a simultaneous appearance was observed in 4 cases.
In the idiopathic facial palsy group, 3 cases experienced recurrences, and 5 cases revealed abnormalities in equilibrium tests.
The problems of differential diagnosis between Bell's palsy and Hunt syndrome are discussed.
