Monday, July 25, 2011

FACIAL PALSY (BELL'S PALSY)

FACIAL PALSY (BELL'S PALSY)

What is Bell's palsy?

Bell's palsy refers to unilateral (one side) paralysis of muscles of face.

What are the symptoms of facial palsy?

Facial palsy causes weakness of facial muscles. So, patients may face the following problems:

1. Difficulty in closing the eye, so, the eye on affected side may look bigger.
2. Difficulty in frowning, leading to absence of wrinkles over forehead on the affected side.
3. Difficulty in blowing out cheeks (air leaks out on the affected side).
4. Watering of eye on the affected side,
5. Difficulty in chewing food, food may get stuck within the mouth on the affected side
6. Facial asymmetry, face may seem to get pulled to the normal side.

Other symptoms may include:

1. Loss of taste on the affected side,
2. Faint sounds may also seem louder (hyperacusis)
3. Headache, facial pain and neck pain may occur on the affected side. The pain may start a few days prior to the onset of facial paralysis. 

How does facial palsy start?

Symptoms of facial palsy starts suddenly over hours, so, it is very alarming for the patient. At the onset, patient may have pain behind the ear, in the neck, or the head on the side of paralysis. Symptoms are minor in the beginning, so, they often get noticed first by others or may be noticed on looking into a mirror.

What should be done, if one suspects facial palsy?

There is no need to panic, as it is a benign condition, and often improves over time. One should first consult their family physician or GP and subsequently a neurologist. Care should be taken to avoid any dirt entering the eye (as the eye can not be properly closed) to prevent corneal (a part of eye) infection.

What are the causes of facial palsy?

Bell's palsy is idiopathic (no definite cause has been identified). However, research has shown that it is often caused by viral infections such as herpes simplex. Facial palsy is more common in people with diabetes mellitus and in pregnant women. Patients with facial palsy often give a history of exposure to cold prior to the onset of symptoms (such as direct exposure of AC wind, going out at night or early morning, or long road journey with open windows), but their role in causing facial palsy has not been proven.

Other causes of facial palsy may include brain stroke (decreased blood supply to brain), tumors, other infections, trauma, infections of ear, etc.

What investigations would the doctor ask in facial palsy?

  • Generally, no investigations are necessary as the diagnosis of facial palsy is obvious on clinical examination.
  • However, brain scan (CT or MRI) may be done if one suspects brain stroke or tumors.
  • Blood sugar should be checked to exclude diabetes mellitus.
  • Nerve conduction studies (NCV/EMG) may be done to estimate the extent and severity of facial nerve involvement and in some cases to predict the outcome of facial palsy.
  • In patients with recurrent facial palsy, certain blood tests may be done to look for the presence of disorders like collagen vascular diseases or vasculitis.

How is facial palsy treated?

Medical management of facial palsy may include the following:

1. Anti-viral drugs: Aciclovir tablets (2000 mg per day in divided doses) are given for 7-10 days.

2. Corticosteroids: Prednisolone 50-60 mg per day for 5-10 days are helpful in speeding the recovery. 

3. Vitamins: Mecobalamin (vitamin B12), alpha lipoic acid, etc are given to speed up recovery and regeneration of the facial nerve.

4. Physiotherapy: includes facial exercises, massage, and electrical stimulation of the facial nerve.

What is the prognosis of facial palsy?

  • As earlier mentioned, facial palsy is not a serious condition and most patients recover well. Almost 60-70% patients recover in 3-4 weeks and the remainder in another few months.
  • Less than 5% patients either do not recover or recover only partially.
  • Facial palsy does not lead to death.
  • Facial palsy usually does not recur, and recurrence is seen in only about 2-5% of cases.
  • Patients with residual palsy may have facial asymmetry and they may consult cosmetologist/cosmetic surgeon for correction of asymmetry.
Miscellaneous questions about facial palsy

1. Is it contagious?
No, facial palsy does not spread from one patient to another, so, isolation is not required.

2. How common is Bell's palsy?
It is quite common and I see about 5-10 new cases per month.

3. Is Bell's palsy hereditary?
No

DR SUDHIR KUMAR MD (MEDICINE) DM (NEUROLOGY)
SENIOR CONSULTANT NEUROLOGIST
APOLLO HOSPITALS, HYDERABAD, INDIA
Phone: 040-23607777/60601066
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bestneurologist


20 comments:

Ramakrishna said...

Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge. It is indeed really helpful to us. I have gone through other blog posts as well found very very useful for common man like me. Every doctor should come up and share their knowledge to help more healthy India.

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Kishan said...

Sir bells palsy was effected to me long back i,e 10 to 15 years back. Then I was very poor and do not that it was bells palsy. When I came to know and able to spend for treatment Doctor said it was very late and chances are very less. I tool treatment at NIMs only physiotherapy but no use. Now am unable to close my eyes, and one can notice the difference if observed closely.
Is there any treatment to my problem
Can it be recovered
If so i will contact You

Anonymous said...

DEAR SIR,

i WANT TO DISCUSS FOR MY SISTER'S FACE PARALYSIS PROBLEM.
SANJAY SONI
9887332332
yashkirtijaipur@gmail.com

Dr. Sudhir Kumar said...

Dear Sanjay Soni, Please discuss the case at lybrate (online consultation). This is the link:

https://www.lybrate.com/hyderabad/doctor/dr-sudhir-kumar-neurologist

Unknown said...

Dear Sir,

I have afected with face paralysis on my right side around 7 years back i did homeopathy tratment along with physiotherapy also, it was recover almost sonce before some time i am suffering swelling on affected area and feel itching on the same area is there any hope to receover it i am living in UAE if you suggest me i will visit to india and consult with you to do the tratment.

Thank you in advance for your valuable suggestion.

You can contact me on below mention email address:

syedkhajamoinudin@gmail.com

Dr. Sudhir Kumar said...

Dear Syed Khaja, I would be pleased to see you when you visit to Hyderabad, India.

Unknown said...

Good morning sir, My father is suffering from facial paralysis from 6 month. Due to ear ache problem. Now his ear operated from ent doctor in patna. But sir not any recovery in facial paralysis. Sir plzz suggest me what I do.

Sir my contact number is 9006803352. And my Gmail is amars8184@gmail.com. Sir plzzz suggest me.

Thanks

Dr. Sudhir Kumar said...

Dear Mr Amar, At this stage there is no role of any medicine. If his face is asymmetric, the options are botox injections (temporary benefit) and plastic surgery (for long term benefit).

Unknown said...

Hello Sir,

This is Rahil my mother got attached with facial and bells palasy from past 2 months.She is unable to close her right eye . On regular basic physioteraphy of face stimulation is going on . When iam consulting doctors they are saying that if it would have been recover within 2 months it would better now we dont think it will cover.Her age is 65 years.Please can you suggest me on this.

My mail id is majeed.raza23@gmail.com my contact number is 9985201001

Regards,
Majeed Raza

Dr. Sudhir Kumar said...

Hello Majeed, at this stage, physiotherapy is the only option, which needs to be continued. Some people take longer to recover. It is true that about 5% people do not show good recovery.

Anonymous said...

Hi sir,
i’m 30 year old 8 months pregnant women. 9 weeks back my right face was paralyzed Bell’s palsy on right side of face. I have been doing physiotherapy and acupuncture but nothing is helping? It’s has been 9 weeks with no movement on my right face. My baby will be born soon I want to recover as early as possible. Can you help?

Dr. Sudhir Kumar said...

Hi Sweta, I would see you in the OPD after your delivery and decide the best treatment.

Dr Sudhir Kumar

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