Background
: Bell's palsy(BP) is defined as an idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis of sudden onset and account more than 50% of facial paralysis. It's etiology is unclear, but herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) has been the most suspicious causative agent of BP that over been studied. We evaluated the effect of add-on acyclovir in acute stages of BP. Methods : Subject consisted of 35 patients who developed acute within 10 days after onset of BP. Facial nerve function was assessed by the House-Brackman facial nerve grading scale and facial nerve conduction study including blink reflex. Follow-up evaluation were made 2 month after onset. Twenty of 35 patients were treated with combined therapy of acyclovir and prednisone. As a control group, 15 patients were treated with prednisone only. We compared the improvement of neurologic defects at recovery phase. Results : Compared with two groups, difference in grading scale at recovery phase is statistically significant(p<0.01). So, acyclovir-prednisone group showed a significant improvement in grading at recovery phase compared with prednisone group. Conclusion : We identified the benefit of add-on acyclovir in the acute stage of BP
