Bell's palsy:Paralysisof thenervethat supplies the facial muscles on one side of the face (theseventh cranial nerve, orfacial nerve).Bell'spalsyoften starts suddenly. The cause may be aviral infection. Treatment includes protecting theeyeon the affected side from dryness during sleep. Massage of affected muscles can reduce soreness. Sometimes可的松medication, such asprednisone, is given to reduceinflammationduring the first weeks of illness. The outlook is generally good; the vast majority of patients recover within weeks or months.
