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Facial nerve paralysis
Facial nerve palsy or facial nerve palsy (CN VII) is a paralysis of the motor nerve whose function is to control the movements of the facial muscles. Peripheral cranial nerve palsy is also known as peripheral facial palsy and is also known in folklore as gale.
This is a condition in which damage to the facial nerve results in complete or partial loss of movement of muscles in half of the face. Please note that 7th cranial nerve peripheral palsy is different from central facial palsy caused by brain damage.
Although the disease is not life threatening, it may not lead to death, but it can cause serious effects and leave sequelae if not treated properly and quickly.
SYMPTOMS OF FACIAL NERVE PARALYSIS
Symptoms of facial nerve palsy (Facial nerve paralysis) include sagging skin around the eyebrows, eyes, cheeks, and mouth.
When a muscle loses its motor function, it causes stretching and sagging of the skin above the muscle, and the degree of this paralysis and laxity of the muscle and skin is more or less different in each specific case.
However, the symptoms of this disease are quite obvious and easy for the patient to notice. Symptoms appear suddenly with the following signs:
- The face is droopy or abnormally stiff.
- Suddenly my face is numb and one side of my face is weak
- The mouth is deformed, deviated to one side.
- Drinking water is very difficult, drinking water often overflows.
- Tears and saliva are produced more than usual.
- Difficult to laugh, difficult to speak.
- Bad taste.
- One eye cannot be closed due to paralysis of the muscle that closes the eyelid
- Pain in the ear, headache.
CAUSES OF 7TH PERIPHERAL NERVE PALSY
As a reminder, you should know that the palsy of the 7th peripheral nerve is different from the palsy of the 7th central nerve. While 7th central nerve palsy occurs inside the skull due to causes like stroke, brain tumor or neuroma etc.
Peripheral cranial nerve palsy can have many causes. But most cases of illness are caused by a sudden cold that directly affects this nerve.
In addition, some other causes of disease can be cited as complications of various types of trauma, such as head trauma in the temporal region, mastoid or inflammatory diseases such as viruses, colds and flu or prolonged otitis media without definitive treatment. , etc.
PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK OF PERIPHERAL PALSY OF THE 7TH NERVE
- Sick people, weakened immune system.
- Pregnant women.
- Physically inactive people, those who have little contact with the outside environment.
- People with a history of high blood pressure or atherosclerosis.
- People who often stay up late and work stressfully.
- People who regularly drink alcohol.
- People who often leave early or late at night are sensitive to rain and cold.
CONSEQUENCES OF 7TH PERIPHERAL NERVE PALSY
Although peripheral 7th cranial nerve palsy may not lead to death, it can lead to a variety of serious sequelae and the longer it is left on, the more complicated the complications become:
- Eye complications: Patients may present with conjunctivitis, keratitis, corneal ulcers or eyelids.
- Synergism: involuntary muscle contractions associated with involuntary activities such as tugging at edges with eyes closed.
- Posterior hemifacial spasm: This complication occurs in severe forms due to nerve damage with partial redistribution of the nerves.
- Crocodile tear syndrome: This is a rare complication of tears when eating
HOW TO TREAT 7TH PERIPHERAL NERVE PALSY?
Depending on the severity of the disease, the doctor will choose different methods of treatment, medical or surgical, or may also combine these two methods to improve the effectiveness of the treatment.
In medical treatment, patients with 7th nerve palsy should be used early on corticosteroids, in high doses, after exclusion of contraindications (diabetes, tuberculosis, peptic ulcer, mental disorders). God…)
In addition, special antiviral drugs can be used with viral infection or pain behind the ear, sensory disturbances in the face.
If caught early, the treatment of the disease is not too complicated with the popular method of massage combined with acupressure, acupuncture; or with exercises and tricks using wormwood, using essential oils. or herbs, using an electronic acupuncture pen, etc. treated aggressively, the disease can be cured after only about 3 weeks.
HOW TO PREVENT PARALYSIS OF THE 7TH PERIPHERAL NERVE?
To prevent disease, we need to exercise regularly to improve physical health, have a scientific diet to improve resistance. When you go out, you need to keep your body warm.
In addition, there is a note, although small, but very important for everyone, especially the elderly and the infirm, that when you wake up you should not get up to go out immediately, but sit down… for a while to let your body really wake up and then go out.
