What Is Bell's Palsy?

Bell's palsy is a form of temporary facial paralysis resulting from damage or trauma to one of the two facial nerves.  It is the most common cause of facial paralysis. Generally, Bell's palsy affects only one of the paired facial nerves and one side of the face, however, in rare cases, it can affect both sides.  Symptoms of Bell's palsy usually begin suddenly and reach their peak within 48 hours.  Symptoms range in severity from mild weakness to total paralysis and may include twitching, weakness, or paralysis, drooping eyelid or corner of the mouth, drooling, dry eye or mouth, impairment of taste, and excessive tearing in the eye. Bell’s palsy often causes significant facial distortion. Most scientists believe that a viral infection such as viral meningitis or the common cold sore virus — herpes simplex — causes the disorder when the facial nerve swells and becomes inflamed in reaction to the infection.

Is There Any Treatment?

There is no cure or standard course of treatment for Bell's palsy. The most important factor in treatment is to eliminate the source of the nerve damage. Some cases are mild and do not require treatment since the symptoms usually subside on their own within two weeks. For others, treatment may include medications such as acyclovir — used to fight viral infections — combined with an anti-inflammatory drug such as the steroid prednisone — used to reduce inflammation and swelling.  Analgesics such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen may relieve pain, but because of possible drug interactions, patients always should talk to their doctors before taking any over-the-counter medicines.  In general, decompression surgery for Bell's palsy — to relieve pressure on the nerve — is controversial and is seldom recommended.

What Is the Prognosis?

The prognosis for individuals with Bell's palsy is generally very good. The extent of nerve damage determines the extent of recovery.  With or without treatment, most individuals begin to get better within two weeks after the initial onset of symptoms and recover completely within three to six months.

What Research Is Being Done?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health, conducts and supports an extensive research program of basic science to increase understanding of how the nervous system works and what causes the system to go awry sometimes, leading to dysfunction. Part of this research program focuses on learning more about the circumstances that lead to nerve damage and the conditions that cause injuries and damage to nerves. Knowledge gained from this research may help scientists find the definitive cause of Bell's palsy, leading to the discovery of new effective treatments for the disorder. Other NINDS-supported research is aimed at developing methods to repair damaged nerves and restore full use and strength to injured areas, and finding ways to prevent nerve damage and injuries from occurring.

Additional Resources

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 1968
(55 Kenosia Avenue)
Danbury, CT   06813-1968
1-800-999-NORD (1-800-999-6673) or (203) 744-0100
Fax: (203) 798-2291
Internet: www.rarediseases.org
E-mail: orphan@rarediseases.org

Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health

Updated: February 2008

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