Bell's paralysis

This disease is a sudden weakness of the muscles, which develops due to damage to the facial nerve. In this case, the functioning of only one half of the face is disrupted. Bell's paralysis is formed very quickly. Typically, he faces older than sixty years, but he can meet and at an earlier age.

Causes of Bell's Palsy

Until the end of the cause of this ailment is not established. It is only known that the appearance of paralysis is associated with nerve edema, triggered by a malfunction of the immune system or by infection with the virus. The syndrome of Martin Bell is also associated with hypothermia, trauma and such diseases as:

• diabetes;
• stroke ;
• tumors;
• HIV;
• hereditary predisposition;
• abscess.

Symptoms of Bell's Palsy

The peculiarity of the disease consists in its rapid course. Often a couple of hours before the onset of the pathological process, the patient has pain behind the ears. As the development of paralysis, the following symptoms occur:

1. The weakness of the facial muscles that appears on one side, and the skewed face.
2. Expansion of the eye gap, which leads to the fact that the eye is difficult to close. The frontal folds above this eye are smoothed.
3. Painful sensations behind the ear can go to the corner of the mouth. Nasolabial fold at this place is smoothed and saliva flows out of the corner of the mouth.
4. The patient feels numbness and heaviness of the muscles of the face. Sensitivity is not lost.
5. The defeat of the nerve is accompanied in some cases by a loss of taste sensations.

Consequences of Bell's paralysis

If the lesion is not serious, then the disease lasts for several weeks. However, it can be accompanied by complications:

1. Damage to the facial nerve of an irreversible nature leads to the fact that paralysis remains for life.
2. Violation of the process of recovery of nerve fibers leads to uncontrolled contractions of muscles. For example, a person can smile, and the eye at the same time will be covered.
3. The consequence of Bell's syndrome may also be full or partial blindness. Due to the fact that the eye does not close, the cornea dries up and is damaged.

Treatment of Bell's paralysis

The acute form of the disease is eliminated by taking anti-inflammatory, vasodilating and antispasmodics. In addition, the patient is prescribed decongestants. If the disease is accompanied by soreness, then the patient is prescribed analgesics . In addition to these drugs, antiviral agents such as:

• Valtrex;
• Zovirax.

In the future, the treatment of Bell's syndrome is aimed at restoring the nerve fibers and preventing the atrophy of the facial muscles. Quite effective application of acupuncture, thermal procedures, ultrasound with hydrocortisone. After about eight weeks, the disease recedes.

If the regression is slow, then the patient is appointed to improve the tissue metabolism of the substance. These include:

• Nerobolil;
• Nerobol.

It is also recommended to use B vitamins, anticholinesterase agents such as:

• Galantamine;
• Proserin;
• Nivalin.

In subacute periods, the patient is prescribed a massage of facial muscles and gymnastics.

If, after eight weeks, no positive effect is found, then a surgical operation involving autologous nerve transplantation is possible.

After partial paralysis, the regeneration process lasts for several months. In 90% of cases, complete recovery is observed, if the fibers of nerves retain excitability to electrical impulses. If excitability is absent, then the probability of recovery is only 20%.