RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 When is facial paralysis Bell palsy? Current diagnosis and treatment
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP 398
OP 405
VO 72
IS 5
A1 Ahmed, Anwar
YR 2005
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/72/5/398.abstract
AB Bell palsy is largely a diagnosis of exclusion, but certain features in the history and physical examination help distinguish it from facial paralysis due to other conditions: eg, abrupt onset with complete, unilateral facial weakness at 24 to 72 hours, and, on the affected side, numbness or pain around the ear, a reduction in taste, and hypersensitivity to sounds. Corticosteroids and antivirals given within 10 days of onset have been shown to help. But Bell palsy resolves spontaneously without treatment in most patients within 6 months.