Bell's Palsy

🔬Causes & Risk Factors

• 1The exact cause is often unclear
• 2but Bell's palsy is believed to result from inflammation and swelling of the facial nerve
• 3frequently associated with reactivation of a dormant herpes simplex virus infection
• 4though other viral infections have also been implicated. The swollen nerve becomes compressed as it passes through a narrow bony canal within the skull
• 5impairing its ability to transmit signals to the facial muscles. Risk factors include pregnancy
• 6diabetes
• 7upper respiratory infections
• 8and a family history of the condition
• 9though many cases occur in people with no identifiable risk factors.