Bell’s palsy is an acute, unilateral paralysis of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) that causes sudden weakness or loss of facial movement. It often appears without warning, leaving one side of the face drooping or immobile, and can be mistaken for a stroke. The exact cause remains uncertain, but reactivation of herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) is believed to trigger inflammation and compression of the facial nerve as it passes through the temporal bone.
Clinical Features:
Sudden onset of facial weakness affecting the forehead, eye, and mouth on one side
Inability to close the eyelid or smile on the affected side
Altered taste sensation, hyperacusis, or ear pain preceding paralysis
Absence of limb weakness or speech deficit (helps differentiate from stroke)
Diagnosis and Management:
Diagnosis is clinical after excluding central causes.
Corticosteroids, initiated within 72 hours, improve recovery outcomes.
Eye care (artificial tears, eye patch) prevents corneal injury.
Physiotherapy helps restore muscle tone and facial symmetry.
Most patients recover completely within weeks to months, but prompt treatment remains essential to prevent residual weakness or synkinesis.
A patient can experience Bell’s palsy with a sudden onset, and there is no definitive treatment available. The most important aspect of management is protecting the eyes, as exposure can lead to corneal injury and potential damage to vision.
Bell’s palsy can be scary because it strikes suddenly and mimics a stroke, but most people recover fully with early treatment. Quick use of steroids, good eye care, and physiotherapy play a key role in restoring facial movement and confidence.
Bell’s palsy occurs mostly due to idiopathic inflammation of facial nerve (cranial nerve VII).
Prognosis- In 70-80% of the cases, patient recovers completely in 3 weeks to 3 months. Though, about 7-15% of patients experience a recurrence. If it happens again, it tends to affect the same side in most cases.
