Health Encyclopedia

Facial paralysis

Definition

Facial paralysis is the total loss of voluntary muscle movement of one side of the face.

Alternative Names

Paralysis of the face

Considerations

About 75% of all cases of facial paralysis in adults are due to a condition called Bell's palsy, in which the facial nerve becomes inflamed.

Stroke may cause facial paralysis. In this case, the eye on the affected side may be closed and the forehead can be wrinkled. (Persons with Bell's palsy can not do this.) Other muscles on one side of the body may also be involved with a stroke.

Facial paralysis due to a brain tumor generally develops slowly and causes headaches, seizures, or hearing loss.

In newborns, facial paralysis may result from birth trauma.

Common Causes

Bell's palsy
Stroke
Brain tumor
Sarcoidosis
Lyme disease
Infection
Birth trauma (newborns)

Home Care

Treatment depends on the cause. Follow your health care provider's treatment recommendations. Sometimes steroids and acyclovir may be given depending on the cause.

If the eye cannot be fully closed, the cornea must be protected from drying out with prescription eye drops or gel.

Call your health care provider if

Call your doctor if you have weakness or numbness in your face. Seek emergency medical help if these symptoms occur along with a severe headache, seizure, or blindness.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

The doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your medical history and symptoms, including:

Are both sides of the face affected?
Have you recently been sick or injured?
What other symptoms do you have? For example, drooling, excessive tears from one eye, headaches, seizures, vision problems, weakness, or paralysis.

Tests that may be done include:

Blood tests, including blood sugar, CBC, ESR, Lyme test
MRI of the head
CT scan of the head
Electromyography

The doctor may refer you to a physical, speech, or occupational therapist. If facial paralysis from Bell's palsy persists for more than 6 - 12 months, plastic surgery may be recommended to improve eye closure and facial appearance.

Review Date:3/5/2007
Reviewed By:Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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