Bell’s palsy, which causes sudden and temporary weakness on the facial muscles, occurs at any age. It may be due to the swelling and inflammation of the nerve that controls the muscles on one side of the face or a reaction of a viral infection

Symptoms: mild or total weakness of one side of the face, difficulty closing one eye or smiling, drooling, jaw pain, headache, among others. Very rarely, it can affect both sides of the face. You should see a specialist immediately if one or more signs develop as they are very similar to those of a stroke

Therefore, it is very important to rule it out to avoid permanent sequels. People having a respiratory infection in the upper airways, suffering from diabetes and pregnant women may have a higher risk of suffering from this type of paralysis. The average recovery time in mild cases is one month, but it may take longer depending on the complexity

Dr. Pablo Zumaeta
Neurologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma