Weakening or complete paralysis of facial muscles

Description

Bell`s palsy or weakness,complete paralysis of facial muscles. Inflammation of facial nerve leads to gradual or sudden paralysis or weakness on one side of the face. The disease most frequently appears in the patients age 15 to 60 years. Most patients completely recover in 3 to 6 months. Sometimes symptoms return, but they rarely last for whole life. The exact cause of this disease is usually unknown. However, some studies point out to the reactivation of virus herpes simplex or herpes zoster, which might be the cause of facial nerve inflammation. Lyme disease is rarely other cause.

Symptoms

Facial weakness, slurred speech, limp face, impossibility to close eyes, eye irritation, reduced sense of taste, sensitivity on sound in the ear on the side affected by paralysis.

Overview

History of disease is being taken and physical examination is being done. Blood test for Lyme disease is being done if there is a tic (twitching of face muscles).

Specialists

General Practice, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Otology, Neurotology

Therapy

Treatment includes corticosteroids (prednisone) with or without antiviral medicines (aciclovir), artificial tears, eye protection from extreme weather conditions.