Symptoms & Signs
Symptoms usually start suddenly, and range from mild to severe. They may include:
- Change in facial expression (for example, grimacing)
- Difficulty with eating and drinking
- Drooling due to lack of control over muscles of the face
- Droopy eyelid or corner of mouth
- Dry eye or mouth
- Face feels stiff or pulled to one side
- Facial paralysis of one side of the face, makes it hard to close one eye
- Headache
- Loss of sense of taste
- Pain behind or in front of the ear
- Sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis) on the affected side of the face
- Twitching in face
- Weakness in face
Diagnosis & Tests
- Blood tests for sarcoidosis or Lyme disease
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Nerve conduction test
Other causes of cranial mononeuropathy VII, such as head injury and tumor, need to be ruled out.
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Bell’s palsy : Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
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Bell’s palsy : Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests
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Bell’s palsy : Treatment
Review Date : 2/1/2009
Reviewed By : Linda Vorvick, MD, Family Physician, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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