Steroid effective for Bell’s palsy

A steroid drug long given to treat the facial paralysis of Bell’s palsy improves the rate of recovery, but the antivirus drug acyclovir does not, researchers reported Wednesday.

Bell’s palsy, which affects the nerve feeding the facial muscles, is relatively rare. In affects up to one in 2,500 people per year, stripping the smile of its symmetry and robbing the eye of its ability to close.

Although it usually disappears without treatment, as many as 30% of patients do not recover completely, and the best treatment has been debated.

The new research was published in the Oct. 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.