Bell's palsy

What is Bell's palsy?

Bell's palsy is sudden loss of feeling and muscle control on one side of the face. While this condition is more common in adults, children and adolescents can have Bell's palsy. Usually, Bell's palsy goes away by itself within a few weeks or months. A very small number of children will have the symptoms for life.

Bell's palsy can be mistaken for a stroke.

Signs and symptoms of Bell's palsy

The signs and symptoms of Bell's palsy come on unexpectedly. The most obvious sign of Bell's palsy is facial paralysis on one side of the face. In rare cases, both sides of the face are affected. Other signs and symptoms may include:

• mild weakness to total paralysis on one side of the face
• difficulty smiling or closing the eye on the affected side
• face appears to droop
• pain around the jaw
• pain near the ear on the affected side
• headache
• cannot taste food
• drooling

If your child is showing some of these signs or symptoms, contact your child's doctor right away.

Causes

Doctors believe Bell's palsy occurs when the nerve controlling facial muscles becomes inflamed or swollen. The inflamed nerve cannot do its job of sending messages to your child's facial muscles. Nerves that control tears, saliva and taste are also affected.

The cause of the swelling is a viral infection. Most doctors believe the herpes simplex virus, the same infection that causes cold sores, triggers Bell's palsy.

Risk factors

Bell's palsy occurs more often in children who have diabetes or have a flu or cold.

What a doctor can do to help your child

Your child's doctor will examine your child and try to find out the cause of the facial paralysis. Your child's doctor may suggest medications or physical therapy. Most children with Bell's palsy recover fully, even without treatment.

Treatment

Your child's doctor may prescribe corticosteroids to reduce the swelling of the facial nerve. The doctor may also prescribe an antiviral drug to stop the progress of the infection that caused the Bell's palsy. If your child cannot close their eye on the affected side, your doctor may prescribe an eye patch or eye drops.

Surgery is rarely used to treat this condition.

What you can do to help your child

Your child may have trouble eating, bathing or blinking. Also, the sudden paralysis can be a difficult condition to adapt to, especially in the classroom. Other children can be cruel, curious or critical.

Tell your child that the condition will not last and they will likely recover fully in a few months. If you feel it is needed, ask your child's teacher to teach your child's classmates about the condition. A school nurse could also come into the class to explain. At home, give your child love and support. Your child's self-esteem may be low.

There are other ways you can help your child with Bell's palsy:

Protect the eye that cannot close

You may need to remind your child to manually close the affected eye to prevent irritation. Also, you may need to apply lubricating eye drops several times a day. Glasses, eye patches or sunglasses can protect the eye.

Monitor the pain

Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used to treat any ear or jaw pain. DO NOT give your child ASA (acetylsalicylic acid). Applying a moist washcloth may help relieve some of the pain in your child's face.

Carry out physical therapy exercises

Encourage your child to practice exercises directed by your child's physical therapist.

When to seek medical assistance

If your child is showing some of the signs or symptoms of Bell's palsy, contact your child's doctor right away.