Bells Palsy in a child is rare, but it still can happen and when it does, it is devastating to say the least. I know first hand the problems that Bells Palsy can create both medically and emotional for a child.
Bells Palsy thankfully disappears within three to six months, but it can have life lasting effects unless you seek medical help quickly. Treatment consists of steroids given directly on the onset, and continues for a 10-day run. The steroids help to limit the damage that can potentially result from the Bells Palsy.
Bells Palsy is the result when one side of the face is temporarily paralyzed from the forehead to the bottom of the chin, and thus everything in between is immobile.
This means the child with Bells Palsy is unable to close their affected eye or mouth, which results in dry eyes and drooling from the mouth. The child will need to use artificial tears, to keep the eyes moist and at times wear a patch.
I noticed my 10-year-old child’s case of Bells Palsy and took her to the pediatrician, and he needed to call in a few other doctors to make a firm diagnosis. That is just how rare this Bells Palsy is in a child.
It simply began looking as if my child had a swollen eye, without any redness or bruising. When it did not go down the next day, I took her to her pediatrician, and he could tell me very little of the care of this. Therefore, I searched the internet and found very little for parents. Most of what I seen was photos of children with the same disease as my child had. The bulk of the medical information that cased the Bells Palsy was written for doctors.
My child had an ear infection as well as cold and the doctors said this combination could rarely cause bells palsy. One of the nerves up by where you get crows feet gets pinched and at times causes it to become immobile and this creates the Bells Palsy. The nerves just branch out from there and cause the rest of the paralysis.
Bells Palsy affects senior citizens, but it can affects younger people as I found out. Luckily, if you get it younger, the better your chances of surviving it are without life long effects. My child has one life long effect from the Bells Palsy, which is her left eye does not close all the way or open all the way. That is a tiny issue compared to what could have happened.
My child needed to wear an eye patch at night during the three months when the Bells Palsy was active. We also had to use artificial tears quite often during the day when her face was affected with the Bells Palsy. I got two bottles of these so she could use it at home as well as school. At school, because it was a medicine, the school nurse had to give it to her.
Special allowances are needed in school as well for the child affected with Bells Palsy. You will need to have a meeting with the principal, nurse, secretary and all the teachers who see your child when they are in school. The Support staff is very essential to safeguarding your child especially when they have a disease such as this.
The nature of Bells Palsy leaves children unable to close their mouths so it is important that they be allowed to eat away from the other children until this runs the course. As we, all know children can be cruel to others who are not like them.
The bells Palsy child will need to sleep on his back until it is over, and they can be quite uncomfortable. Regular pillows that we all use will only make the child feel worse, so you need to take a towel, fold it in half lengthwise, and then roll it up. This becomes a pillow and works like a charm.
