Idiopathic Facial Nerve Paralysis (Bell's Palsy) in the Asir Region

This is a prospective study of idiopathic facial nerve paralysis (Bell's palsy) in the southwest region of Saudi Arabia (Asir Region). A total of 321 patients were seen at the Facial Nerve clinic in the department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery between January 1992 and December 1995. They comprised 159 males and 162 females. The peak frequency of the condition occurred in the third decade, and 223 of the cases (69%) occurred during the winter months (November to March). Three hundred and twelve patients had single unilateral attacks, six had ipsilateral recurrent attacks, while three had contralateral recurrent attacks. No cases of bilateral attacks were observed. The main associated factor was exposure to cold draft. Only 14 patients (4%) had some residual functional deficit six months after the onset of paralysis.