Bell's palsy is caused by inflammation of the 7th cranial nerve, resulting in facial muscle weakness or paralysis on the affected side. The cause is unknown but may involve vascular issues, viruses like herpes, autoimmune issues, or a combination. Most cases affect those under 45. Signs include facial distortion, tearing, pain near the ear and eye, and possible eating and speech difficulties on the affected side. Diagnosis involves facial muscle testing. Treatment focuses on eye protection, facial exercises to prevent atrophy, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, analgesics for pain, and sometimes electrical stimulation or surgery.
Bell's palsy is caused by inflammation of the 7th cranial nerve, resulting in facial muscle weakness or paralysis on the affected side. The cause is unknown but may involve vascular issues, viruses like herpes, autoimmune issues, or a combination. Most cases affect those under 45. Signs include facial distortion, tearing, pain near the ear and eye, and possible eating and speech difficulties on the affected side. Diagnosis involves facial muscle testing. Treatment focuses on eye protection, facial exercises to prevent atrophy, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, analgesics for pain, and sometimes electrical stimulation or surgery.
Bell's palsy is caused by inflammation of the 7th cranial nerve, resulting in facial muscle weakness or paralysis on the affected side. The cause is unknown but may involve vascular issues, viruses like herpes, autoimmune issues, or a combination. Most cases affect those under 45. Signs include facial distortion, tearing, pain near the ear and eye, and possible eating and speech difficulties on the affected side. Diagnosis involves facial muscle testing. Treatment focuses on eye protection, facial exercises to prevent atrophy, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, analgesics for pain, and sometimes electrical stimulation or surgery.
Bell's palsy is caused by inflammation of the 7th cranial nerve, resulting in facial muscle weakness or paralysis on the affected side. The cause is unknown but may involve vascular issues, viruses like herpes, autoimmune issues, or a combination. Most cases affect those under 45. Signs include facial distortion, tearing, pain near the ear and eye, and possible eating and speech difficulties on the affected side. Diagnosis involves facial muscle testing. Treatment focuses on eye protection, facial exercises to prevent atrophy, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, analgesics for pain, and sometimes electrical stimulation or surgery.
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BELLS PALSY
BRIEF DESCRIPTION SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS DIAGNOSTIC EXAM NURSING INTERVENTION
INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT COLLABORATIVE (Facial paralysis) is caused by unilateral inflammation of the 7 th
cranial nerve, which results in weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles on the affected side.
Although the cause is unknown, theories about causes include vascular ischemia, viral disease (Herpes simplex, Herpes zoster), autoimmune disease or a combination of all these factors.
Most adults with Bells palsy are younger than 45 years old of age (Carlson & Pfadt, 2005)
May be a type of pressure paralysis.
The inflamed, edematous nerve becomes compressed to the point of damage, or its blood supply is occluded (Ischemic necrosis of the nerve)
Face is distorted from paralysis of facial muscles
Increase lacrimation (Tearing)
Painful sensations in the face, behind the ear and in the eye
Patient may experiences speech difficulties
Maybe unable to eat on the affected side because of weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles.
No specific test for Bells palsy. Your doctor will look at your face and ask to move your facial muscles by closing your eyes, lifting your brow, showing your teeth and frowning
Electromyography (EMG)
Confirm the presence of nerve damage and determine its severity
Measure the electrical activity of a muscle in response to stimulation and the nature and speed of the conduction of electrical impulses along a nerve
Protection of the eye from injury. (Use a protective shield at night)
Moisturizing eye drops during the day and eye ointment at bedtime may help prevent injury. (Carlson & Pfadt, 2005)
Wrap-around sunglasses or goggles may be worn during the day to decrease normal evaporation of the eye.
If patient can tolerate touching the face, the nurse can suggest massaging the face several times daily, using a gently upward motion, to maintain muscle tone.
Facial exercise, such as wrinkling the forehead, blowing out the checks and whistling. May be performed with the aid of mirror to prevent muscle atrophy.
Exposure of the face to cold and drafts is avoided.
Heat may be applied to the involved side of the face to promote comfort and blood flow through the muscles.
Corticosteroid treatment (Prednisone) To reduce inflammation and edema; this redness vascular compression and permits restoration of the blood circulation to the nerve.
Early administration of this drug appears to diminish the severity of the disease, relieve pain and minimize or prevent denervation. (Carlson & Pfadt, 2005).
Analgesics agent To control facial pain
Electrical stimulation may be applied to the face to prevent muscle atrophy.
Surgical exploration of the facial nerve may be indicated if a tumor is suspected, for surgical decompression of the facial nerve or for surgical treatment of paralyzed face.
