INTRODUCTION:
Bell’s palsy is the most frequent peripheral paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve, with a sudden and unilateral onset. This is an idiopathic illness that causes partial or total facial paralysis, as well as alterations in taste, sensitivity to sound, and changes in lacrimation and salivation. Bell palsy is an acute facial paralysis or weakness induced by an unknown a etiology. Bell’s palsy is characterized by a sudden weakening of one side of the face. This makes it difficult for a person to move their mouth, elevate their brow, wrinkle their nose, or close their eyes.
CAUSES:
A facial nerve regulates the muscles on each side of the face. Bell’s palsy occurs when a nerve on one side does not function properly. The facial nerve expands and presses against the bone. This results in muscular weakness or temporary paralysis on that side.
Typically, doctors do not know why this occurs. However, some people get Bell’s palsy after contracting an illness, such as:
- HSV-1 (the virus responsible for cold sores)
- The virus that causes chickenpox, varicella
- Epstein-Barr virus (the etiology of mononucleosis)
- Common cold
Symptoms:
Bell’s palsy usually occurs suddenly on one side of the face. Some children may experience ear ache or fullness before developing facial paralysis.Some children have only minor weaknesses. Others, on the other hand, may be unable to move that side of their face at all. On the affected side, the face (particularly the lips) appears to droop.
Other signs and symptoms include:
- Sounds that seem louder than normal in the ear on the affected side of the face difficulty closing one eye
- Eye dryness
- Drooling
- Altered lacrimation function (lack of tearing or excessive tearing)
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Altered salivation function (lack of or excessive salivation)
- Pain in or near the ears
Diagnose
There is no single test that confirms that the patient is suffering from bell palsy. The doctor, based on the symptoms, asked for CT scans. Blood tests and x-rays are not required for this disease. One side affected shows that these are the symptoms of bell palsy.
When symptoms are not typical for Bell’s palsy or the weakness doesn’t get better after a few weeks, doctors might order such tests as:
- Computed tomography (CT) scans
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Electromyography (EMG) to check how well the muscles and nerves are working.
Treatment:
Bell’s palsy normally resolves as the swelling subsides and the nerve heals. Doctors may suggest:
- Steroid medications can reduce nerve swelling, particularly in the first three days
- To lubricate and protect the eyes, use eye drops or ointment.
- Patch to shield the eyes at night
- Face workouts to help muscles grow stronger
Most children with Bell’s palsy recover entirely within a few weeks. Some people may retain some facial weakness, especially if the paralysis was severe.
Risk Factors:
Risk factors are the contributors which can worsen the symptoms or you are at risk to affected with particular disease.
- Conditions that compromise the immune system, such as HIV and diabetes
- Pregnancy
- Bacterial infections (such as typhoid fever, syphilis, tuberculosis and frequent middle ear infections)
- Neurological disorders such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, multiple sclerosis and neurosarcoidosis
- Traumatic injury to the head or face
- Tumors causing nerve compression
- Viruses such as influenza (the flu), the common cold or infectious mononucleosis
CONCLUSION:
Bell’s palsy is a facial nerve paralysis that results in the inability to control facial muscles on the affected side. Bell’s palsy is an exclusionary diagnosis. Because it is idiopathic, which means it is caused by an unknown cause, it is critical for the doctor to conduct a thorough study, including numerous blood tests and/or MRI or CAT scans, to determine that there is no specific underlying condition causing the facial paralysis. There is no age limit to how old you can be before this sickness catches up with you. This can happen to anyone at any age, which means that people must take precautions.
