(This post is also available in Italian, French and German)

by VALDO VACCARO 30 September 2016

LETTER

INFLAMMATION AND PARESIS ON MY 5-YEAR-OLD CHILD’S FACE

Hi Valdo, I’m the father of a 5 year old son who became vegan 3 years ago and is in good health. It happened to him, perhaps as a result of a trivial cold, an inflammation of the facial nerve that caused a slight paralysis of half of the face (Bell’s palsy). Basically we noticed that he was no longer smiling symmetrically and closing his eyes in the same way.

CORTISONIC AND ANTIBIOTICS TREATMENT IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM

The initial scare led us to call the E.R. for help. Therapy assigned after several visits: cortisone for 5 weeks, 4 pills a day after breakfast, combined with intravenous antibiotic therapy to be repeated for an unspecified number of times, this because they found an otitis. The doctor was already ready with the needle in her hand to administer the first dose of antibiotic.

REFUSAL OF THERAPY

My wife and I consulted and decided to sign the resignation on our own responsibility, thus rejecting the therapy. My son has no fever, feels no pain, has an appetite. Is it possible that for an inflamed nerve or an ear infection I have to bombard him with poisons like this? Now I don’t really know what we’re going to do, I think we’ll just wait for everything to resolve itself naturally.

WORRY FOR THE BABY AND ALSO FOR ANY LEGAL RETALIATION

We are concerned both for the health of our child and from a legal point of view, as we could be sued for refusing the therapy proposed to us. Please give me some advice if you can. Thank you, Valdo.

Marco

REPLY

PERIPHERAL FACIAL NERVE PARALYSIS

Hi, Marco. Bell’s syndrome means peripheral facial nerve paralysis. The facial nerve is the seventh cranial nerve and innervates all the muscles of the face and the neck muscle that allows to stretch down the corners of the mouth. Its paralysis can be central or peripheral. In central paralysis (due to a lesion of the central pyramidal neuron) the forehead musculature is spared and the eyelid musculature is affected only slightly, as the upper facial muscles have a bilateral innervation and the symptoms are therefore related only to the muscles of the lower branch of the facial, against laterally to the cerebral lesion.

CAUSATIVE HYPOTHESIS

The first to describe the phenomenon was Sir Charles Bell in the first half of the 1800s. Today we know that the peak of incidence is at 40 years of age, with 15-30 people involved every 100,000. Paralysis, as said, is idiopathic (i.e. the cause is unknown), even if it often derives from changes in temperature. There is talk of a viral cause, although there is still no confirmation of it. Peripheral paralysis can also be caused by parotid lesions, Guillian Barrè’s syndrome, Lyme disease, sarcoidosis, diabetes, herpes, acute otitis media, and vaccinal consequences.

SYMPTOMS GENERALLY DISAPPEAR WITHIN A FEW WEEKS

In any case, 85% of cases resolve themselves without any therapy, even though the choice of natural foods rich in the various B vitamins brings clear benefits. Bell is a condition that paralyses part of the facial muscles. It rarely affects both sides of the face at the same time. The condition can affect children and adults of all ages. Usually, the symptoms of Bell’s palsy disappear within a few weeks. Children with colds, flu or diabetes are at a higher risk of Bell’s paralysis.

APPROPRIATE CHOICES TO PROTECT THE CHILD AND NO LEGAL CONSEQUENCES, AS NO ONE CAN IMPOSE TREATMENT THAT IS NOT AGREED UPON

I understand the excitement and stress that you’ve been going through under these circumstances. There’s really no need to panic. Anxiety is a phenomenon that is transmitted and spread, affecting your child as well. 

I think you’ve done well to refuse cortisone and antibiotics. I do not think you will have any legal consequences, especially if the baby will recover as well as possible through natural remission. And that, of course, is my wish for you. After all, good health speaks in favour of the child. The well-known internal healing mechanisms, not disturbed and not put out by cortisone and antibiotic, will do the rest.

Valdo Vaccaro

DISCLAIMER: Valdo Vaccaro is not a doctor, but a free researcher and philosopher of health. Valdo Vaccaro does not visit and does not prescribe. The information contained in this site is not intended and should not replace the opinion of the treating doctor.