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Bell's palsy is an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis that begins suddenly and worsens over three to five days. This condition results from damage to the 7th (facial) cranial nerve, and may be accompanied by pain or discomfort on one side of the face and head.The paralysis causes distortion of facial features and interferes with normal functions, such as closing the eye and eating.
The onset of Bell?s palsy is usually sudden. Many people wake up in the morning and find that one side of their face is paralyzed. Patients often fear that they have suffered a stroke, but Bell?s palsy is not related to stroke.This nerve disorder is most often seen in pregnant women, or persons with diabetes, influenza, a cold, or other respiratory ailment.

A specific cause of Bell's palsy is unknown, however, it has been suggested that the disorder may be inherited. It also may be associated with:
1.diabetes
2.high blood pressure
3.trauma
4.toxins
5.Lyme disease
6.Guillain-Barr? syndrome
7.sarcoidosis
8.myasthenia gravis
9.infection

There are several possible symptoms:
1.numbness of the face
2.a dry mouth and difficulty in speaking
3.loss of taste in the front portion of the tongue
4.dryness or watering of the affected eye, and a turned out lower eyelid
5.dribbling when drinking or after cleaning teeth
6.ear pain (especially below the ear)
7.intolerance to loud noises on the affected side.

The tests may include:
1.Physical examination-During the physical examination, an expert observes the patient's range of movement in different parts of the face.
2.Imaging tests-Imaging tests such as computerized tomography (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan) are used to detect infection, tumor, bone fracture, or other abnormality in and around the facial nerve.
3.Hearing and balance tests -They are used to determine if the nerve responsible for hearing is also damaged and assess injury to the inner ear
4.Electromyography (EMG)-It assesses injury by electrically stimulating the facial nerve

Its complications include:
1.Disfigurement from loss of facial movement
2.Damage to the eye (corneal ulcers and infections)
3.Chronic spasm of face muscles or eyelids
4.Chronic taste abnormalities
5.Synkinesis (abnormality in re-innervation of muscles resulting in tears when laughing or inappropriate salivation)

Its complications include:
1.Disfigurement from loss of facial movement
2.Damage to the eye (corneal ulcers and infections)
3.Chronic spasm of face muscles or eyelids
4.Chronic taste abnormalities
5.Synkinesis (abnormality in re-innervation of muscles resulting in tears when laughing or inappropriate salivation)