BELL, S PALSY: POSSIBLE ETIOLOGY AND OUTCO ME

Abstract

This study was carried out on the patients attending Neurology outpatient clinic with acute peripheral facial palsy during a period of 6 months, and the study was divided into 3 stages:

I) First stage

All patients with acute peripheral facial palsy were subjected to:

1- History taking.

2- Careful neurological and otological examinations.

3- General examination.

4- Some relevant investigations when needed.

Then the patients were etiologically classified and all cases with recent Bell's palsy were chosen for further studies.

II) Second Stage

Twenty four patients with recent onset Bell's palsy including 23 males and 19 females, their age ranged from 5 years to 78 years.

1- For each patient, the relevant symptoms and signs on the first examination were noted.

2- For each patient, the degree of paresis of facial muscles on the first examination was noted and every patient was placed in one of six categories of the facial nerve grading system, (six-points scale)