Bell

Bell's Palsy

Bell's Palsy (pronounced: /ˈbɛlz ˈpɔːlzi/) is a condition that causes sudden, temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles in one side of the face. It is the most common cause of facial paralysis.

Etymology

Bell's Palsy is named after Sir Charles Bell (1774–1842), a Scottish surgeon who was the first to describe the condition.

Symptoms

The main symptom of Bell's Palsy is sudden weakness or paralysis on one side of your face that makes it hard to close your eye or smile. Other symptoms can include:

• Tearing
• Drooling
• Hypersensitivity to sound in one ear
• Headache
• Loss of sense of taste
• Changes in the amount of tears and saliva produced

Causes

The exact cause of Bell's Palsy is unknown, but it's often linked to exposure to a viral infection. Viruses that have been linked to Bell's Palsy include:

• Herpes simplex, which causes cold sores and genital herpes
• HIV, which damages the immune system
• Sarcoidosis, which causes organ inflammation
• Lyme disease, a bacterial infection caused by ticks

Treatment

Treatment of Bell's Palsy involves relieving symptoms and depending on the severity of the condition, may include medications such as corticosteroids, physical therapy to stimulate facial muscles, or surgical procedures to reduce nerve inflammation.

Related Terms

• Facial Paralysis
• Herpes Simplex
• HIV
• Sarcoidosis
• Lyme Disease

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Bell
• Wikipedia's article - Bell

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