Bells palsy

Question 1

def

Answer 1

acute peripheral facial nerve palsy of unknown etiology, causing rapid onset of facial weakness, most common cause of facial nerve inj
weakness/paralysis of both upper and lower facial muscles on 1 side of the face.

Question 2

which nerve is damaged

Answer 2

7th cranial facial nerve

Question 3

lower motor neuron is damaged

Answer 3

signals from contralateral and ipsilateral motor cortex are lost in the upper face
info from the contralateral motor cortex is last in the lower face.

Question 4

cause

Answer 4

assoc w/ viral: herpes simplex, Epstein Barr, varicella-zoster
Bacteria: borrelia b (lyme dz)

Question 5

ages and sex affected

Answer 5

all ages and genders

Question 6

correlates with

Answer 6

periods of stress and fatigue

Question 7

increase incidence with:

Answer 7

htn, dm, demyelinating dz, sarcoidosis

Question 8

diff between cva vs bells palsy

Answer 8

bells palsy: age 20-50, time: hours to days affects upper and lower motor neuron, S&S facial numb
CVA: age: >60, time: sec to min lower motor neuron, S&S: weakness, numbness, speech diff, slurred speech, dbl vision, facial numb, diff swallowing, vertigo, ataxia

Question 9

CVA def

Answer 9

nontraumatic brain inj, dt occlusion or rupture of cerebral bld vessels, results in sudden neuro def, characterized by loss of motor control, altered sensation, cognitive, language impairment, disequilibrium or coma

Question 10

S&S

Answer 10

drooping eyelid, drooping mouth, loss of nasal fold, dry eye/mouth, hypersensitivity to loud noise and loss of taste

Question 11

diag

Answer 11

identify problem is facial nerve and not stroke
ct/mri (r/o tumor),
Lyme titer
corneal reflex (blink test) is abnormal 100% time

Question 12

tx

Answer 12

no special tx except symptomatic eye care/ PT
may do tapered dose pack methylprednisolone
antiviral drugs : acyclovir will stop prog if viral

Question 13

recovery

Answer 13

4-6 wk recover 6 mo