Title:Bell Palsy: Facts and Current Research Perspectives
Volume: 23
Issue: 2
Author(s): Jayaraman Rajangam*, Arun Prasath Lakshmanan, K. Umamaheswara Rao, D. Jayashree, Rajan Radhakrishnan, B. Roshitha, Palanisamy Sivanandy, M. Jyothi Sravani and K. Hanna Pravalika
Affiliation:
- AMITY Institute of Pharmacy, AMITY University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226028, India
Keywords:
Bell palsy, ipsilateral paralysis, cranial nerve, epidemiology, management of bell palsy, current research perspectives.
Abstract: Bell palsy is a non-progressive neurological condition characterized by the acute onset of
ipsilateral seventh cranial nerve paralysis. People who suffer from this type of facial paralysis develop
a droop on one side of their face, or sometimes both. This condition is distinguished by a sudden onset
of facial paralysis accompanied by clinical features such as mild fever, postauricular pain, dysgeusia,
hyperacusis, facial changes, and drooling or dry eyes. Epidemiological evidence suggests that 15 to 23
people per 100,000 are affected each year, with a recurrence rate of 12%. It could be caused by ischaemic
compression of the seventh cranial nerve, which could be caused by viral inflammation.
Pregnant women, people with diabetes, and people with respiratory infections are more likely to have
facial paralysis than the general population. Immune, viral, and ischemic pathways are all thought to
play a role in the development of Bell paralysis, but the exact cause is unknown. However, there is evidence
that Bell's hereditary proclivity to cause paralysis is a public health issue that has a greater impact
on patients and their families. Delay or untreated Bell paralysis may contribute to an increased
risk of facial impairment, as well as a negative impact on the patient's quality of life. For management,
antiviral agents such as acyclovir and valacyclovir, and steroid treatment are recommended. Thus, early
diagnosis accompanied by treatment of the uncertain etiology of the disorder is crucial. This paper
reviews mechanistic approaches, and emerging medical perspectives on recent developments that
encounter Bell palsy disorder.
