What causes facial paralysis?
Disease description:
An elderly family member went out for exercise in the morning and noticed facial asymmetry upon returning. The doctor diagnosed it as facial paralysis. I'd like to ask, what causes facial paralysis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Guan Yanlei
Facial paralysis, also known as Bell's palsy, is a peripheral facial paralysis caused by non-specific inflammation of the facial nerve within the stylomastoid foramen. The exact cause of facial paralysis remains unclear. For a long time, it has been believed that facial paralysis is associated with viral infection of the nerves, often occurring after exposure to cold, fatigue, or upper respiratory tract infections. It may result from acute viral infection and edema of the facial nerve within the stylomastoid foramen, leading to compression of the nerve or local circulatory disturbances, thereby causing facial nerve dysfunction.
