Bell's palsy
facial paralysis resulting from dysfunction in the cranial nerve VII (facial nerve)
Key facts
- Specialty
- Neurology , Ophthalmology , ENT , oral and maxillofacial surgery
- Symptoms
- Inability to move the facial muscles on one side, change in taste , pain around the ear
- Usual onset
- Over 48 hours
- Duration
- < 6 months
- Causes
- Unknown
- Risk factors
- Diabetes , recent upper respiratory tract infection
- Diagnostic method
- Based on symptoms
- Differential diagnosis
- Brain tumor , stroke , Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2 , Lyme disease
- Treatment
- Corticosteroids , eye drops , eyepatch
- Prognosis
- Most recover completely
- Frequency
- 1–4 per 10,000 per year
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
Bell's palsy is a type of facial paralysis that results in a temporary inability to control the facial muscles on the affected side of the face. In most cases, the weakness is temporary and significantly improves over weeks. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe. They may include muscle twitching, weakness, or total loss of the ability to move one or, in rare cases, both sides of the face. Other symptoms include drooping of the eyebrow, a change in taste, and pain around the ear. Typically symptoms come on over 48 hours. Bell's palsy can trigger an increased sensitivity to sound known as hyperacusis.
The cause of Bell's palsy is unknown and it can occur at any age. Risk factors include diabetes, a recent upper respiratory tract infection, and pregnancy. It results from a dysfunction of cranial nerve VII (the facial nerve). Many believe that this is due to a viral infection that results in swelling. Diagnosis is based on a person's appearance and ruling out other possible causes. Other conditions that can cause facial weakness include brain tumor, stroke, Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2, myasthenia gravis, and Lyme disease.