Bell's Palsy

Bell's Palsy: A disorder of the nerve that controls the movement of the muscle's in the face. If damaged the nerve will cause weakness or paralysis to these muscle's. Bell's Palsy is associated with the damage to the seventh cranial (facial) nerve. The seventh cranial (facial) nerve controls the movement of the muscles in the face. 30,000 to 40,000 are affected by Bell's Palsy each year in the United States.

Causes:  Inflammation where the nerve travels through the the bones of the skull. Bell's Palsy can also be caused by HIV, lyme disease, middle ear infection and sarcoidosis.

Symptoms: Symptoms can show up immediately or can take 2 to 3 days. Bell's Palsy either shows up on only one side of the face, and range from mild to severe.  The muscles in the face will feel stiff or pulled to one side. One will experience difficulty eating and drinking and usually the food will fall out of one side of the mouth. Drooling, drooping of the face, hard to close one eye, difficulty smiling, grimacing, or making facial expressions, and twitching and weakness of the muslces in the face will also occur. Other symptoms that may occur from Bell's Palsy is dry eye or mouth, headaches, loss of sense of taste, and sound that is louder in one ear.

Diagnosis: Often Bell's Palsy is diagnosed by taking a health history and a complete physical exam. If a tumor is expected to be causing Bell's Palsy then either a CT head or MRI head will be done.

Treatment: No treatment is often needed, but it could take weeks or even months for the facial nerves to become strong again.

Prevention: Unknown




References:

1. de Almeida JR, Al Khabori M, Guyatt GH, Witterick IJ, Lin VY, Nedzelski JM, et al. Combined corticosteroid and antiviral treatment for Bell palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2009;302:985-993. [PubMed: 19724046]
2. Shy ME. Peripheral neuropathies. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 446.