Inflammation of the facial nerve responsible for controlling the muscles of the face causes a condition called peripheral facial palsy or Bell’s palsy .
The inability of the nerve to communicate with the muscles of the face causes paralysis of the face with signs and symptoms that include weakness of the muscles on one side of the face, paralysis of the upper eyelid that leads to difficulty blinking, and deviation of the mouth to the opposite side. to that of paralysis.
Influencer Gustavo Tubarão claimed to have been diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy in a video posted on Instagram on Sunday (24).
“I went to lunch yesterday and, at lunchtime, I felt my mouth feel weird and I looked in the mirror, my face was crooked, as you can see, this right side of mine is paralyzed. I started to have a ‘cabulous’, very strong anxiety crisis, I had a panic attack because I thought I was having a stroke or a stroke, I called my father, I was desperate”, reports the influencer, stating that he was diagnosed by doctors at the family.
Causes of Bell’s Palsy
Facial nerve involvement can be caused by viral infections and immunological conditions associated with the body’s defense system.
“Today, the most accepted theory is that the lesion that causes inflammation of the facial nerve, with interruption of its functioning, occurs due to viral infections of different types. The virus that most often leads to Bell’s palsy is herpes simplex, the same virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes,” says neurologist Rodrigo Meirelles Massaud, medical coordinator of the Integrated Neurology Program at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, in a statement.
According to the neurologist, other viruses can also cause Bell’s palsy, including herpes zoster, which causes chickenpox, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus, responsible for mononucleosis.
Symptoms of peripheral facial palsy
Inflammation leads to swelling of the nerve and the small blood vessels around it, which, because they are surrounded by the bones of the skull, are compressed and interfere with the nerve’s ability to conduct electrical impulses.
“Symptoms can be characterized by weakness of the muscle on one side of the face, difficulty closing the eyes, blinking, smiling, wrinkling the forehead. In addition, pain behind the eyes, difficulty tasting certain types of food”, explains Fernando Gomes, a neurosurgeon and professor at Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo.
According to Gomes, paralysis can also lead to dryness of the eye and changes in the salivation pattern with increased saliva.
“The patient may have difficulty chewing, pain in the back of the ear, in the retroauricular region, sensitivity to louder sounds, feeling that the face is being twisted towards one side. In addition to problems when articulating the words and the diction itself and even a headache”, he says.
Diagnosis
As reported by influencer Gustavo Tubarão, the fear of a stroke is common among patients suffering from Bell’s palsy for the first time.
“The biggest fear of the patient with Bell’s palsy is the worry of having a stroke. Some clinical clues make a stroke less likely, among them: the fact that there is no paralysis in another region of the body, in Bell’s palsy the paralysis affects the upper part of the face and in a stroke, the mouth is usually crooked without reaching the eye”, he says. Massaud.
“Despite the clinical clues, it is important to see a doctor urgently to rule out serious causes of neurological injuries and start treatment early,” he adds.
According to experts, the identification of Bell’s palsy is carried out from a clinical diagnosis and does not depend on complementary exams.
“The diagnosis is usually made clinically, through observation and neurological examination. Auxiliary neuroimaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging or a cranial tomography, can be used to rule out another type of problem”, says Gomes.
“Some serologies for infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria may be helpful. The electroneuromyography exam can help to analyze the state of the nerve for cases that take time to improve, especially in those that take more than three months”, completes Massaud.
Treatment and prognosis
Bell’s palsy is a temporary condition, with recovery in a few days or weeks. Treatment can help reduce the duration of symptoms.
“Some drugs, such as antivirals and hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids, can be used to accelerate the process of rehabilitation and healing”, says Gomes. According to the neurosurgeon, physical therapy also helps to speed up the recovery of patients.
Neurologist Rodrigo Meirelles Massaud warns of eye care due to the impacts of paralysis on the ability to blink.
“There is a risk of permanent eye damage to the cornea, which is the transparent, protective covering of the eye, if the eye becomes excessively dry. You can use artificial tears to keep the eye moist. If your eye doesn’t close completely, you should protect it during the day with glasses. Occlude the upper eyelid when sleeping to prevent corneal injury,” he says.
Source: CNN Brasil
