Facial nerve paralysis
Facial Nerve Paralysis
Facial nerve paralysis (/ˈfeɪʃəl nɜːrv ˈpærəlaɪsɪs/), also known as Bell's palsy, is a medical condition that results in an inability to control the facial muscles on the affected side. The condition is believed to be due to a viral infection that causes inflammation of the facial nerve, which carries signals from the brain to the muscles of the face.
Etymology
The term "paralysis" is derived from the Greek word "paralyein", which means to disable the side. The term "facial nerve" is a direct translation of the Latin "nervus facialis". The condition is named after Sir Charles Bell, a Scottish surgeon who first described the connection between the facial nerve and facial paralysis in the 19th century.
Symptoms
Symptoms of facial nerve paralysis include sudden weakness in the facial muscles, drooping of the mouth or eye on one side of the face, loss of the sense of taste on the front two-thirds of the tongue, and increased sensitivity to sound in one ear. Other symptoms may include pain or discomfort around the jaw or behind the ear on the affected side, changes in the amount of tears and saliva produced, and headache.
Causes
Facial nerve paralysis is most commonly caused by herpes simplex virus type 1, the same virus that causes cold sores. Other possible causes include Lyme disease, sarcoidosis, and HIV/AIDS. In some cases, the cause of facial nerve paralysis may be unknown.
Treatment
Treatment for facial nerve paralysis often includes medications such as corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and swelling, antiviral drugs if a virus is the cause, and physical therapy to improve nerve function. In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Facial nerve paralysis
- Wikipedia's article - Facial nerve paralysis
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski