Causes and risk factors:
Bell’s palsy is caused by the affection of one of the facial nerves usually on the one side of the face.Common factor among it is viral infection. The infection like herpes or varicella zoster triggers the diseases. Exposure to cold and chills, trauma and emotional and metabolic disorders contribute to the reactivation of the infection which can lead to Bell’s palsy. Certain diseases can also cause the affection of the facial nerve like Lyme diseases, brain tumor and myasthenia gravis. Bells palsy is self limiting diseases.
Clinical presentations:
The patient complaints of sudden onset of partial or complete paralysis of the side of the face. There is inability to wrinkle the forehead. The person is unable to close the eyes and mouth of the affected side. There occurs dribbling of saliva from the angle of the mouth on the affected side. The person can complaint of pain in the root of ears. There also occurs inability of chewing food due to difficulty in closure of mouth the person cannot whistle or blow air. Affection of the eyes can cause watering from the eyes. The person faces inability to raise the eyebrows.
Diagnosis and investigations:
Diagnosis can be made on the basis of the symptoms narrated by the patients and the physical examination carried out by the doctor. There is no specific test for confirming the diagnostic investigations for confirming bell’s palsy. Specific test termed as House-Brackmann score test is done by the doctor which enables him to know the extent of the nerve injury.
Treatment:
Bell’s palsy is a self limiting disease; recovery can occur in four weeks. Physiotherapy exercises are effective to improve the muscle tone and nerve stimulation. Measures to protect the eyes like use of glares are implemented. Use of facial straps or facial splints to prevent the overstretching of the mouth is done. Vitamin B1 and B12 medications can also be given parenterally. Steroids are prescribed by the doctor. Anti viral and antibiotics along with analgesics in case of pain are advised.. Electrical stimulation of the nerve may be helpful.
Other Modes of treatment
The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating Bell’s palsy Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms. Similarly the ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbal medicines and synthetic derivates are also found to be effective in treating Bell’s palsy.
Recent updates:
American Academy of Otolaryngology has laid down certain guidelines to improve the accurate and efficient diagnosis and treatment of Bell’s palsy.
