{ "schema_version": 1, "kind": "condition", "id": "bell-palsy", "name": "Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis)", "category": "acute", "sources": "AAO-HNS Clinical Practice Guideline: Bell's Palsy 2013", "review_status": "reviewed", "verified_against": "AAO-HNS Clinical Practice Guideline: Bell's Palsy 2013 ยท Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis) - disease-level clinical article (bell-palsy-clinical.txt)", "verified_date": "2026-08", "treatments": [ { "id": 269, "generic": "Prednisolone", "line": 1, "is_adjunct": false, "form": "oral.solid", "strength_mg": 5.0, "adult_dose": "60 mg daily for 5 days, then taper by 10 mg daily over 5 days", "adult_duration": "10 days total", "dose_source": "AAO-HNS Clinical Practice Guideline: Bell's Palsy 2013", "rationale": "Corticosteroid course that reduces inflammation and swelling around the facial nerve as it passes through its bony canal, improving the chance of full recovery; its benefit depends on starting within the window noted in the cautions.", "cautions": [ "INITIATE WITHIN 72 HOURS of symptom onset for maximum efficacy.", "EYE PROTECTION IS MANDATORY: lubricating drops by day, ointment and eye taping at night.", "Take steroid dose in morning with food to reduce insomnia." ], "peds_mgkg_low": 1.0, "peds_mgkg_high": 2.0, "peds_max_mg": 60.0, "peds_basis": "day", "peds_unit": "mg", "peds_note": "1-2 mg/kg once daily for 7 days (max 60 mg/day)", "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": null, "peds_doses": [ { "weight_kg": 10, "low_mg": 10, "high_mg": 20, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 20, "low_mg": 20, "high_mg": 40, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 30, "low_mg": 30, "high_mg": 60, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 40, "low_mg": 40, "high_mg": 60, "capped": true } ], "brands": [ { "trade_name": "HOSTACORTIN H 5MG 30 TAB.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "SANOFI", "price_egp": 12.0, "pack_count": 30, "unit_price": 0.4, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "PREDNISOLONE 5 MG 20 TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "ARAB DRUG COMPANY (ADCO)", "price_egp": 24.0, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 1.2, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "PREDILONE 5MG 10 TAB. (25 STRIPS PACK)", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "KAHIRA", "price_egp": 250.0, "pack_count": 10, "unit_price": 25.0, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "EPICOPRED 5 MG 30 ORODISPERSIBLE TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "EIPICO", "price_egp": 69.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "PREDNISOLONE-EVA 5 MG 30 ORODISPERSIBLE TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "EVA PHARMA", "price_egp": 79.5, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "DISPRELONE-OD 5 MG 30 ORODISPERSABLE TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "ANDALOUS PHARMA", "price_egp": 84.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "SOLUPRED ORO 5 MG 30 ORODISPERSIBLE TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "SANOFI WINTHROP > SANOFI", "price_egp": 84.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "ACETASEE 1% EYE DROPS (SUSP.) 5 ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "RAMEDA", "price_egp": 7.5, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": null, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "PREDNIS 5MG/5ML SYRUP 100 ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "PHAROPHARMA", "price_egp": 9.5, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null } ], "condition_id": "bell-palsy" }, { "id": 270, "generic": "Referral & safety-netting (no drug therapy)", "line": 1, "is_adjunct": false, "form": null, "strength_mg": null, "adult_dose": null, "adult_duration": null, "dose_source": "Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis) - disease-level clinical article (bell-palsy-clinical.txt)", "rationale": "Carries the referral criteria and warning signs for this condition, which apply whichever treatment is chosen.", "cautions": [ "RED FLAG - Evaluate for facial nerve decompression in severe grade VI paralysis without EMG motor units.", "RED FLAG - Imaging and laboratory workup are needed for atypical features, insidious onset, or recurrent paralysis." ], "peds_mgkg_low": null, "peds_mgkg_high": null, "peds_max_mg": null, "peds_basis": null, "peds_unit": null, "peds_note": null, "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": null, "peds_doses": null, "brands": [], "condition_id": "bell-palsy" } ] }