Association of herpes simplex virus infection and Bell's palsy.

OBJECTIVE To determine the association of the Herpes Simplex virus Type-1 infection and Bell's palsy in patients treated at the outpatient department of a tertiary care center. METHODS A prospective, observational study was carried out at the outpatient department of Medical and ENT units of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi. Fifty patients were enrolled in the study with their informed and written consent, between 2006-2007. All were >12 years of age. They were diagnosed as having Bell's palsy and were investigated for serologic evidence of Herpes simplex virus (HSV). The IgG and IgM antibodies for HSV were identified in the blood samples at the Aga Khan University hospitals laboratory. RESULT Of the 50 patients enrolled, 35 (70%) patients were IgG/IgM positive for the HSV stressing the etiological association of HSV with Bell's palsy. CONCLUSION The study suggests that a relationship exists between HSV infection and Bell's palsy. The information might prove helpful in hastening the recovery by modifying management guidelines in view of the results of this study.