Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Bell’s palsy is an acute, idiopathic, unilateral lower motor neuron paralysis of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), resulting in sudden weakness of the muscles of facial expression. It represents the most common cause of peripheral facial nerve palsy, accounting for a significant proportion of facial paralysis cases worldwide. The condition is characterized by rapid onset of unilateral facial asymmetry, inability to close the eye, drooping of the angle of the mouth, loss of forehead wrinkles, and associated functional disturbances such as hyperacusis, altered taste sensation, and decreased lacrimation or salivation. Although the exact etiology remains unclear, reactivation of Herpes Simplex Virus type-1 and inflammatory edema within the narrow facial canal are considered major contributing mechanisms. Diagnosis is primarily clinical and requires exclusion of other causes such as stroke, trauma, neoplasm, or infections. The House–Brackmann grading system is widely used to assess severity and prognosis. This article reviews the detailed anatomy and physiology of the facial nerve, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnostic approach, and contemporary management strategies of Bell’s palsy, highlighting the importance of early recognition and multidisciplinary care.
DOI: 10.53555/6qa3bj22
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7215683404