What is Bell’s Palsy?
Bell’s palsy is a condition that causes a temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles in the face. It can occur when the nerve that controls your facial muscles becomes inflamed, swollen, or compressed.
The condition causes one side of your face to droop or become stiff. You may have difficulty smiling or closing your eye on the affected side. In most cases, Bell’s palsy is temporary and symptoms usually go away after a few weeks.
Although Bell’s palsy can occur at any age, the condition is more common among people between ages 16 and 60. Bell’s palsy is named after the Scottish anatomist Charles Bell, who was the first to describe the condition.
What are the symptoms of Bell’s Palsy?
The symptoms of Bell’s palsy can develop one to two weeks after you have a cold, ear infection or eye infection. They usually appear abruptly, and you may notice them when you wake up in the morning or when you try to eat or drink. Bell’s palsy is marked by a droopy appearance on one side of the face and the inability to open or close your eye on the affected side. In rare cases, Bell’s palsy may affect both sides of your face.
Other signs and symptoms of Bell’s palsy include:
️ Drooling
️ Difficulty eating and drinking
️ An inability to make facial expressions, such as smiling or frowning
️ An inability to make facial expressions, such as smiling or frowning
️ Facial weakness
️ Muscle twitches in the face
️ Dry eye and mouth
️ Headache
️ Sensitivity to sound
️ Irritation of the eye on the involved side
What causes Bell’s palsy?
The cause of Bell's palsy is not known. It is thought that it may be due to inflammation that is directed by the body's immune system against the nerve controlling movement of the face.
Bell's palsy is sometimes associated with the following:
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Injury
Toxins
Lyme disease
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Sarcoidosis
Myasthenia gravis
Multiple sclerosis
Infection, especially following a viral infection with Herpes simplex virus (a virus that is related to the cause of the common "cold sores" of the mouth)
What are the complications of Bell’s palsy?
️ Most people who have an episode of Bell’s palsy will completely recover without complications. However, complications may occur in more severe cases of Bell’s palsy.
These include the following:
️ You may have damage to the seventh cranial nerve. This nerve controls your facial muscles.
️ You may have excessive dryness in the eye, which can lead to eye infections, ulcers, or even blindness.
️ You may have synkinesis, which is a condition in which moving one body part causes another to move involuntarily. For example, your eye may close when you smile.
How is Bell’s palsy treated?
Medications
Corticosteroid drugs, which reduce inflammation
Antiviral or antibacterial medication, which may be prescribed if a virus or bacteria caused your Bell’s palsy
Over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, which can help relieve mild pain
Eye drops
Home treatment
An eye patch (for your dry eye)
A warm, moist towel over your face to relieve pain
Facial massage
Physical therapy exercises to stimulate your facial muscles
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bells-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370028
https://www.healthline.com/health/bells-palsy
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/bells-palsy
Yugan maleesha
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