Question
My wife has been diagnosed with facial paralysis. The doctor said it should be either peripheral or central facial paralysis. What are the differences between the two?
Answer
Peripheral and central facial paralysis are two distinct conditions with different causes and symptoms. Peripheral facial paralysis is caused by damage to the facial nerve, typically affecting the facial muscles on one side, leading to weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles on that side. Central facial paralysis, on the other hand, is due to nerve nucleus damage in the brain or brainstem, usually accompanied by weakness in the lower half of the opposite face.