Bell's palsy

Bell's palsy (facial palsy) is characterised by facial drooping due to malfunction of the facial nerve (VII cranial nerve), which controls the muscles of the face. Named after Scottish anatomist Charles Bell, who first described it, Bell's palsy is the most common acute mononeuropathy (disease involving only one nerve), and is the most common cause of acute facial nerve paralysis. Bell?s palsy affects about 40,000 people in the United States every year. It affects approximately 1 person in 65 during a lifetime. Until recently, its cause was unknown in most cases, but it has now been related to both Lyme disease and Herpes simplex.

Related Topics:
Palsy - Facial nerve - Cranial nerve - Muscle - Charles Bell - Mononeuropathy - Nerve - Acute facial nerve paralysis - Lyme disease - Herpes simplex

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