Facial nerve palsy is the disease of cranial nerve. From the total number of cases, 60 to 75 % of Bell's palsy cases are idiopathic form of facial palsy. Facial nerve palsy results in weakness of facial muscles, atrophy, asymmetry of face and also disturbs the quality of life. Bell’s palsy occurs in every class of population affecting people of all the age groups but the most common age group affected is 15 - 50 years with equal sex prediliction accounting 11 - 40 cases per 100,000. If facial palsy is not treated properly then it may result in variety of complications like motor synkinesis, dysarthria, contractures of facial muscles, and crocodile tear. Currently facial paralysis treatment consists of combination of pharmacological therapy, facial neuromuscular re-entrainment physiotherapy or surgical intervention by static and dynamic facial reanimation techniques. Physiotherapy treatment is effective for treating facial paralysis with minimal complications and can be individualized. Bell's palsy is the idiopathic form of facial nerve palsy which accounts for 60 to 75 % of cases and male to female ratio is 1:3.1 The aetiology of facial paralysis is not yet thoroughly understood. Cases of varicella-zoster, mononucleosis, herpes simplex virus, mumps and measles have demonstrated good serology in several reports for their association but still stands unclear. 2 Peripheral facial nerve palsy may be idiopathic (primary cause) or Bell’s palsy (secondary). Causes of the secondary unilateral facial nerve palsy are diabetes, stroke, Hansen's disease, herpes simplex infection, birth injury, trauma, tumour, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and immune system disorders. Causes of the bilateral facial nerve palsy are leukemia, brainstem encephalitis, leprosy, and meningitis. The most prominent current theories of facial nerve paralysis pathophysiology include the reactivation of herpes simplex virus infection (HSV type 1). Current facial paralysis treatment consists of a combination of pharmacological therapy, facial neuromuscular re-entrainment physiotherapy or surgical intervention by dynamic and static facial reanimation techniques.7 This is a diagnosed case of right facial nerve palsy which was treated under physiotherapy department with proper rehabilitation protocol.
Antiviral treatment for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis)
