Bell's Palsy - Research Paper Example

Information and Recent Research on Bell’s Palsy Idiopathic facial paralysis or Bell’s palsy is a condition characterized by paralysis of one side of the face due to damage or inflammation of the facial nerve. According to a web article written by Holland and Weiner and published by the British Medical Journal on 8 June 2004, the paralysis is most possibly caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 and herpes zoster virus. The symptoms of Bell’s palsy are sudden, and it is crucial to act upon it within 72 hours for a better chance of recovery.

Most people who have had Bell’s palsy recover from this condition after treatment with some medicines and therapy. Patients with mild cases may get well with some self-help measures; nevertheless, a doctor’s diagnosis is strictly required. In 2010, the Bupa website published some information about Bell’s palsy. According to the site, Bell’s palsy was named after its discoverer, Sir Charles Bell, who described the condition and traced it to a problem in the facial nerve. In the UK, 5,000 cases of Bell’s palsy are documented every year (Holland and Weiner).

The age of patients varies because Bell’s palsy can occur in adolescents and adults, especially those who are between 15 and 60 years old. There is no disparity in terms of gender but diabetes patients and pregnant women are more prone to the paralysis. Bell’s palsy shows symptoms like sagging eyebrows, closed or difficult to open eyelids, watery or dry eye, drooping of the corner of the mouth, and sensitivity to high pitch noise. The face of Bell’s palsy patients appears expressionless even when they smile.

They may also experience pain and altered sense of taste and loss of taste at the front of their tongue. These conditions may be harmful and affect the patients’ mood, emotional stability, and even social behavior, thus it is important to treat Bell’s palsy upon its onset. The current treatments for Bell’s palsy include corticosteroids, methylcobalamin, an active form of vitamin B-12, antivirals such as famciclovir, acyclovir combined with prednisone, botulinum toxin for synkinesis and hemifacial spasm.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which makes use of increased oxygen pressure to dissolve oxygen in the blood plasma and all body cells and tissues, was recently found to be a good treatment alternative and may be used in conjunction with other treatments (Gulati). In many cases, physicians prescribe a combination of the said treatments for faster recovery. Facial retraining or mime therapy may also be prescribed but facial exercise is prohibited. According to the Bell’s Palsy Infosite and Forums, certain muscle movements during facial exercises may be damaged.

Therefore, it is imperative to seek a physician’s advice and not resort to home treatments alone. Patients may also benefit from transcutaneous electrical stimulation and acupuncture but there are limited claims regarding the effectiveness of these treatments. Recent research recommends new antivirals such as famciclovir and sorivudine. There are also vaccinations to fight relevant viruses. Meanwhile, the use of steroids has demonstrated positive results, and randomized, double blind palacebo trials have already been explored in many countries, showing more positive results than other treatments (Sullivan et al. 1605). To ease the dryness of the eyes and facilitate recovery, physicians may prescribe patients to use eye drops and eye gels.

Patients left untreated after several days may experience prolonged symptoms of the condition or even permanent damage to the facial nerve. In such cases, the face may continue to feel tight and weak, and spontaneous spasms in face muscles may be felt. In addition, tears from the affected eye may be formed, which can make the patient feel uneasy. Prolonged or permanent damage occurring from Bell’s palsy may sometimes require facial surgery. Works CitedGulati, Rashmi. “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Bell’s Palsy.

” Patients Medical. 2005. Web. 21 October 2011.Holland, Julian and Graeme Weiner. “Recent Developments in Bell’s Palsy.” BMJ. 2004. Web.“Recent Developments in Bell’s Palsy.” Wonca Global Family Doctor. 2004. Web. 20 October 2011. Sullivan, Frank M., Lain R.C. Swan, Peter T. Donnan, Jillian M. Morrison, Blair H. Smith, Brian McKinstry, Richard J. Davenport, Luke D. Vale, Janet E. Clarkson, Victoria Hammersley, Sima Hayavi, Anne McAteer, Ken Stewart, and Fergus Daly. “Early Treatment with Prednisolone or Acyclovir in Bells Palsy.

” Journal of Medicine. 357 (2007): 1598-1607. Print.