Bell’s Palsy

When evaluating a patient with facial paresis/paralysis for Bell’s palsy, the following should be considered:

• Bell’s palsy is rapid in onset (<72 hours).
• Bell’s palsy is diagnosed when no other medical etiology is identified as a cause of the facial paresis/paralysis.
• Bilateral Bell’s palsy is rare.
• Currently, no cause for Bell’s palsy has been identified.
• Other conditions may cause facial paresis/paralysis, including stroke, brain tumors, tumors of the parotid gland or infratemporal fossa, cancer involving the facial nerve, and systemic and infectious diseases, including varicella zoster, sarcoidosis, and Lyme disease.
• Bell’s palsy is typically self-limited. Most patients with Bell’s palsy show some recovery without intervention within 2-3 weeks after onset of symptoms and completely recover within 3-4 months.
• Bell’s palsy may occur in men, women, and children but is more common in persons 15-45 years old; individuals with diabetes, upper respiratory ailments, or compromised immune systems; and during pregnancy.