Question

What are the clinical signs and symptoms of facial paralysis?

Answer

Clinical manifestations of facial paralysis include the following:

  1. Paralysis of one side of the facial muscles: weakness or complete immobilization of the muscles on one side of the face, usually occurring unilaterally.
  2. inability to close the eyes completely: paralyzed muscle groups limit eyelid movement, resulting in the inability to close the eyelid completely on one side.
  3. Difficulty in raising the eyebrows: the paralyzed side has difficulty in raising the eyebrows, which is manifested as an asymmetry of the eyebrows.
  4. Slurred speech: the patient’s speech may be slurred due to difficulty in tongue movement.
  5. Tilted corners of the mouth: one side of the facial muscles is paralyzed, and the corners of the mouth may be shifted to the paralyzed side when laughing or speaking.
  6. Shallowing or loss of nasolabial folds: paralysis of the cheek muscles may cause the nasolabial folds to be inconspicuous when smiling. Treatments for facial paralysis include acupuncture and moxibustion in addition to oral medication. These two TCM treatments have been shown to be effective in some patients. Patients should seek medical assistance as early as possible in order to receive an accurate diagnosis and individualized treatment plan.