Question
Grandpa had an argument with Grandma over trivial matters yesterday. After the quarrel, he got angry and ignored everyone and went to bed early. This morning, upon waking up, he found that the right side of his face was paralyzed. The right corner of his mouth drooped, he couldn’t move his tongue to the left, and his eyelid on the right couldn’t lift. What diseases could cause facial paralysis, a crooked mouth, and squinted eyes?
Answer
Facial paralysis can be categorized into central and peripheral types. Based on the described symptoms—drooping of the right corner of the mouth, inability to move the tongue to the left, and inability to lift the right eyelid—it should be classified as peripheral facial paralysis. If the paralysis is accompanied by pain behind the ears, initial treatment may include intravenous antiviral therapy. However, oral steroids are not recommended as they may affect the prognosis. Acupuncture treatment is another option.