Can COVID-19 vaccine cause Bell’s palsy? Expert says it’s unlikely

A new report from the Food and Drug Administration has sparked anxiety on social media about a form of temporary facial palsy called Bell’s palsy, which several COVID-19 vaccinees have developed. But experts say the news is no reason to panic. Unlike Facebook posts suggesting that the vaccine is causing the disease, the FDA is clear that no causal link has been identified.

The document, a 54-page backgrounder released this week, reveals that four people in the Moderna trial – three of whom received the vaccine – suffered from Bell’s palsy. In a previous briefing, the FDA noted that four candidates from Pfizer’s vaccine group also developed the disease. But an expert tells Yahoo Life there’s a much better chance the illness is the result of other causes – and that even though it was vaccine-related, it can be successfully treated with steroids.

Here’s what you need to know.

Bell’s palsy comes on quickly, but usually only lasts a few weeks

The National Institutes of Health define Bell’s palsy as a “form of temporary facial palsy or weakness on one side of the face [that] results from a dysfunction of the cranial nerve VII (facial nerve). The condition hinders an individual’s ability to perform typical facial functions such as blinking and smiling.

Dr Leslie Kim, otolaryngologist and facial plastic surgeon at Ohio State University’s Wexler School of Medicine, says she sees the disease quite often. “It usually happens very quickly, so most people will get it and within 24 to 48 hours their face falls on that side,” Kim tells Yahoo Life. “And most people, around 80% or more, start improving as early as two to three weeks later.” In the vast majority of cases, Kim says, the disease will subside completely, but in rare situations the nerve regenerates “imperfectly” causing what is called synkinesia.

The exact cause is unknown, but doctors believe it is triggered by a viral infection

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Scientists seem to agree that the disease is caused by inflammation of the facial nerve, but there are several ideas about what is fueling the inflammation. Kim says one of the main theories is that this is due to a “reactivation of the herpes simplex virus” – which she describes as “the same one that causes cold sores”. A 2006 study published in Science Direct corroborated this, finding the herpes virus in the saliva of a third of patients with Bell’s palsy, but none in the control group.

Other studies have suggested that it could be linked to other viral infections, not just herpes. The Mayo Clinic lists nine viruses that have been linked to Bell’s palsy, including influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, chickenpox, respiratory disease and mumps.

Steroids are the best treatment, but sometimes antivirals are also prescribed

In many cases, Bell’s palsy will resolve on its own without treatment. But Kim says the first line of defense for those visiting an emergency department or primary care doctor are steroids. “The only treatment we recommend is steroids,” Kim explains. “Ideally, you take them within 72 hours, and it is thought to shorten the recovery time.” Antivirals are sometimes offered in addition to steroids, but the NIH says that with antivirals, “the benefit has not been clearly established.”

Certain conditions may put you at a higher risk of developing it, including COVID-19

Kim says there are certain risk factors associated with Bell’s palsy that can make people more likely to develop it. “What we do know is that diabetes is a risk factor for Bell’s palsy, as well as hypertension or hypertension,” she says. “If you have an upper respiratory infection, such as the flu or a sinus infection, you may be at higher risk, as well as if you are immunocompromised or pregnant.”

She notes that there is also evidence that COVID-19 may become another risk factor for Bell’s palsy. “According to some reports, COVID itself increases the risk of Bell’s palsy,” says Kim. One of these studies, published in the Journal of Neurovirology in October, revealed eight patients with COVID-19 who developed Bell’s palsy, three of them as the first symptom.

There is no evidence to date that the COVID-19 vaccine causes Bell’s palsy

It’s too early to determine whether Pfizer’s or Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines are linked to Bell’s palsy, but as an expert Kim suspects they are not. “Bell’s palsy affects about 15 to 30 people in 100,000,” she says. “Moderna had three cases and Pfizer four, so technically we’re still in those numbers. At this point, it doesn’t seem higher than the general population. “

She says the debate over whether vaccines are linked to Bell’s palsy is “very controversial,” but notes that it has been linked to a vaccine in the past – particularly a nasal flu shot that is said to have led to an increase in cases of the disease. In a report on the matter, the World Health Organization determined that it was probably the “specific components of the vaccine” that were the cause.

For now, given all of this, Kim is not worried. “I certainly don’t think at this point that we can say that it should be a deterrent to getting the vaccine,” Kim says. “It’s just something to be aware of.”

For the latest news and updates on the coronavirus, follow to https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those with compromised immune systems continue to be at greatest risk. If you have any questions, please consult the CDC‘the sand WHO resource guides.