Facial palsy during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Abstract Objective To compare the incidence and clinical features of individuals presenting in emergency rooms (ER) with facial palsy during the Italian COVID‐19 outbreak and in the same period of 2019. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records for all accesses to the six ER in the pro...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Brain and Behavior |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1939 |
| _version_ | 1818558886243729408 |
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| author | Luca Codeluppi Francesco Venturelli Jessica Rossi Antonio Fasano Giulia Toschi Francesca Pacillo Francesco Cavallieri Paolo Giorgi Rossi Franco Valzania |
| author_facet | Luca Codeluppi Francesco Venturelli Jessica Rossi Antonio Fasano Giulia Toschi Francesca Pacillo Francesco Cavallieri Paolo Giorgi Rossi Franco Valzania |
| author_sort | Luca Codeluppi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective To compare the incidence and clinical features of individuals presenting in emergency rooms (ER) with facial palsy during the Italian COVID‐19 outbreak and in the same period of 2019. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records for all accesses to the six ER in the province of Reggio Emilia, Italy, during the first phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic (27 February‐3 May 2020) to identify all cases of diagnosed facial palsy. Clinical information was retrieved for each patient and compared with that of facial palsy cases presenting in 2019. Result Between 27 February and 3 May 2020, 38 patients presented to provincial ERs for facial palsy; in 2019, there were 22 cases, for an incidence rate ratio of 1.73 (95% CI 1.02–2.92) for the 2020 cohort. Of the 2020 cohort, eight patients (21%) presented with active or recent symptoms consistent with COVID‐19 infection, compared with 2 (9%) in 2019 (p = .299); one was tested and resulted positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. Moreover, patients were younger (−11 years, p = .037) than those of the previous year and manifested a longer lag (+1.1 days, p = .001) between symptoms onset and ER presentation. Conclusion We observed a higher occurrence of facial palsy during the COVID‐19 outbreak compared to the same period of the previous year; 21% of patients presenting with facial palsy had active or recent symptoms consistent with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, suggesting an excess risk of facial palsy during or after COVID‐19. These patients searched for medical attention later, probably because of the fear of contracting COVID‐19 during assistance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:18:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e2a256924d6425f803c82ce284b60bc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2162-3279 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:18:09Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain and Behavior |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e2a256924d6425f803c82ce284b60bc2022-12-21T23:25:23ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792021-01-01111n/an/a10.1002/brb3.1939Facial palsy during the COVID‐19 pandemicLuca Codeluppi0Francesco Venturelli1Jessica Rossi2Antonio Fasano3Giulia Toschi4Francesca Pacillo5Francesco Cavallieri6Paolo Giorgi Rossi7Franco Valzania8Neurology Unit Neuromotor & Rehabilitation Department Azienda USL‐IRCCS di Reggio Emilia Reggio Emilia ItalyClinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena ItalyNeurology Unit Neuromotor & Rehabilitation Department Azienda USL‐IRCCS di Reggio Emilia Reggio Emilia ItalyNeurology Unit Neuromotor & Rehabilitation Department Azienda USL‐IRCCS di Reggio Emilia Reggio Emilia ItalyNeurology Unit Neuromotor & Rehabilitation Department Azienda USL‐IRCCS di Reggio Emilia Reggio Emilia ItalyNeurology Unit Neuromotor & Rehabilitation Department Azienda USL‐IRCCS di Reggio Emilia Reggio Emilia ItalyNeurology Unit Neuromotor & Rehabilitation Department Azienda USL‐IRCCS di Reggio Emilia Reggio Emilia ItalyClinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena ItalyNeurology Unit Neuromotor & Rehabilitation Department Azienda USL‐IRCCS di Reggio Emilia Reggio Emilia ItalyAbstract Objective To compare the incidence and clinical features of individuals presenting in emergency rooms (ER) with facial palsy during the Italian COVID‐19 outbreak and in the same period of 2019. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records for all accesses to the six ER in the province of Reggio Emilia, Italy, during the first phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic (27 February‐3 May 2020) to identify all cases of diagnosed facial palsy. Clinical information was retrieved for each patient and compared with that of facial palsy cases presenting in 2019. Result Between 27 February and 3 May 2020, 38 patients presented to provincial ERs for facial palsy; in 2019, there were 22 cases, for an incidence rate ratio of 1.73 (95% CI 1.02–2.92) for the 2020 cohort. Of the 2020 cohort, eight patients (21%) presented with active or recent symptoms consistent with COVID‐19 infection, compared with 2 (9%) in 2019 (p = .299); one was tested and resulted positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. Moreover, patients were younger (−11 years, p = .037) than those of the previous year and manifested a longer lag (+1.1 days, p = .001) between symptoms onset and ER presentation. Conclusion We observed a higher occurrence of facial palsy during the COVID‐19 outbreak compared to the same period of the previous year; 21% of patients presenting with facial palsy had active or recent symptoms consistent with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, suggesting an excess risk of facial palsy during or after COVID‐19. These patients searched for medical attention later, probably because of the fear of contracting COVID‐19 during assistance.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1939Bell's palsyCOVID‐19facial palsynerveSARS‐CoV‐2 |
| spellingShingle | Luca Codeluppi Francesco Venturelli Jessica Rossi Antonio Fasano Giulia Toschi Francesca Pacillo Francesco Cavallieri Paolo Giorgi Rossi Franco Valzania Facial palsy during the COVID‐19 pandemic Brain and Behavior Bell's palsy COVID‐19 facial palsy nerve SARS‐CoV‐2 |
| title | Facial palsy during the COVID‐19 pandemic |
| title_full | Facial palsy during the COVID‐19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Facial palsy during the COVID‐19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Facial palsy during the COVID‐19 pandemic |
| title_short | Facial palsy during the COVID‐19 pandemic |
| title_sort | facial palsy during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Bell's palsy COVID‐19 facial palsy nerve SARS‐CoV‐2 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1939 |
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