Corticosteroids and antiviral treatment for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis)

Peter Konstantin Kurotschka; Fergus Daly; Ildiko Gagyor; Maria Bauer; Franz E Babl; Virginia Hernandez Santiago; Maria Chiara Bassi; Dhruvashree Somasundara; Simon W Lowe; Frank Sullivan

doi:10.1002/14651858.CD015563

Corticosteroids and antiviral treatment for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis)

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2026 Feb 24;2(2):CD015563. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD015563.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Practice, University Hospital Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany.
² Division of Population & Behavioural Science, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
³ Emergency Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia.
⁴ Emergency Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.
⁵ Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
⁶ Medical Library, Azienda USL-IRCCS Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
⁷ University of Dundee School of Medicine, Dundee, UK.
⁸ Facial Palsy UK, Peterborough, UK.

Abstract

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: Primary objective To evaluate the benefits and harms of corticosteroids, antiviral agents, and their combination, when given at onset for Bell's palsy. Secondary objective To explore whether equity-related factors, particularly age, influence the benefits or harms of those treatments.

MeSH terms

Acyclovir / analogs & derivatives
Acyclovir / therapeutic use
Adrenal Cortex Hormones* / therapeutic use
Antiviral Agents* / adverse effects
Antiviral Agents* / therapeutic use
Bell Palsy* / drug therapy
Drug Therapy, Combination / methods
Glucocorticoids* / therapeutic use
Humans
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Substances

Antiviral Agents
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Glucocorticoids
Acyclovir