{"id":306,"date":"2021-01-04T15:21:09","date_gmt":"2021-01-04T22:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neurotucson.fm1.dev\/ear-hearing\/bells-palsy\/"},"modified":"2021-02-02T16:58:20","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T23:58:20","slug":"bells-palsy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/neurotucson.com\/ear-hearing\/otology\/bells-palsy\/","title":{"rendered":"Bell\u2019s Palsy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bell\u2019s Palsy is a disorder of the facial nerve caused by the herpes simplex virus (the same virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes). These viruses often live within nerve cell bodies and can re-activate, thereby compromising the involved nerve\u2019s function. Other non-Bell\u2019s Palsy causes of facial nerve weakness include HIV,\u00a0middle ear infections<\/a>,\u00a0cholesteatoma<\/a>,\u00a0facial nerve tumors<\/a>,\u00a0temporal bone trauma<\/a>,\u00a0brain tumors<\/a>,\u00a0stroke<\/a>, Lyme disease, sarcoidosis, Epstein Barr virus and cytomegalovirus. In Bell\u2019s Palsy, the facial nerve becomes inflamed and swollen. Symptoms on the affected side appear suddenly, often overnight, and include a drooping face, facial twitching, difficulty eating, loss of taste, eye problems (difficulty closing the eye, dry eye or excessive tearing), trouble making facial expressions, hyperacusis (sensitivity to loud sounds) and ear pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experience facial weakness or paralysis, it is critical that you seek medical care promptly to rule out other more serious causes, such as stroke or tumors. Bell\u2019s Palsy is diagnosed by taking a complete medical history as the time-course and associated symptoms are critical to the diagnosis. If the cause of your symptoms is not clear, additional tests may be recommended, including blood tests, a CT or MRI scan and tests of facial nerve function, such as evoked\u00a0electromyography\u00a0(EMG; otherwise known as electroneurography). Most people with Bell\u2019s Palsy completely recover without treatment within three weeks to three months. Medications may be prescribed, including antivirals and corticosteroids (to reduce inflammation of the facial nerve). If facial nerve function is completely absent at onset of symptoms, and there is less than ten percent response on facial nerve testing within two weeks of paralysis, surgical decompression of the facial nerve may be offered to improve chances of a favorable outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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