The Basics
Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate � �
What is Bells palsy? " � Bell's palsy is a condition that causes one side of a person's face to become weak or droop. This can happen when one of the nerves that control the muscles in the face gets damaged or stops working. Damage to this nerve usually happens when the nerve becomes swollen or inflamed because of an infection with a virus. � �
Most people with Bell's palsy recover completely. But some people have symptoms of Bell's palsy for the rest of their life. � �
What are the symptoms of Bell's palsy? " � The symptoms can include: � �
- An eyebrow that sags on one side
- Drooping of one eye and one corner of the mouth
- One eye that will not close completely
Some people with Bell's palsy even lose the ability to taste on the front of their tongue. And some become sensitive to loud noises on the affected side. � �
Is there a test for Bell's palsy? " � No. There is no test. But your doctor or nurse should be able to tell if you have it by learning about your symptoms and doing an exam. Even so, your doctor or nurse might order tests to check whether you have a different medical problem that could be confused with Bell's palsy. � �
Should I see a doctor or nurse? " � Yes. If you have any symptoms of Bell's palsy, see your doctor or nurse right away. Effective treatments exist, but they work best if you start them soon after your symptoms start. � �
How is Bell's palsy treated? " � Treatments include: � �
- Medicines to reduce inflammation and swelling " � Many people with Bell's palsy get medicines called steroids. These are not the same steroids athletes take to build up muscle. These steroids help bring down the swelling that is often the cause of Bell's palsy.
- Protection for your eyes " � Bell's palsy sometimes makes it impossible for you to close one of your eyes. If that happens, it's important that you keep your eye moist and protected. Otherwise your eye can get damaged. Your doctor might prescribe eyedrops or ointments to protect your eye. You should also wear glasses or goggles during the day and an eye patch at night.
- Medicines that help fight viruses " � The swelling that causes Bell's palsy might be triggered by viruses. For this reason, some people get "antiviral medicines, " � which help them fight infection.
Will my face go back to normal? " � Probably. Most people with Bell's palsy start to get better within 3 weeks of when their symptoms start. But it can take them up to 6 months to get completely back to normal. Some people do not recover completely. They can have some weakness in their face that never goes away. � �
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. � �
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. � �
Topic 15818 Version 2.0 � �
Release: 22.8 - C22.208 � �
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