Understanding Bell's Palsy: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Bell's Palsy (also called facialis, facial paralysis) is a condition that causes weakness or paralysis of one half of the face. The paralysis is caused by damage to the nerve that innervates the face. The exact cause of this damage is unknown, but it may be triggered by a viral infection. Bell’s Palsy shares several characteristics with stroke, so it is important to undergo a medical examination that is able to differentiate between the two.
Most people with Bell's palsy recover completely, but Some people are left with lifelong damage.

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Additional names

This group contains additional names:
- Facial palsy

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms usually appear abruptly, and include droopy appearance on one side of the face. Additional symptoms include drooling, inability to smile, muscle twitches in the face, sensitivity to sound, impaired sense of taste and eye dryness.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will perform questioning regarding your symptoms and a thorough neurological examination. additional tests may also be needed, such as laboratory tests (looking for signs of infection) and imaging tests (such as CT or MRI scans).

Treatment

In most cases, Bell’s palsy symptoms improve without treatment within weeks to months. There are several treatment options to speed recovery and relieve symptoms, including physical therapy exercises, pain killers, anti-inflammatory drugs (such as steroids) and antiviral medications.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

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Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital