Question
A relative of a patient with facial palsy asks whether the difficulty speaking after treatment is a typical symptom of facial palsy.
Answer
Facial palsy is an inflammation of the facial nerve, usually caused by viral invasion after exposure to cold or upper respiratory tract infections. Some patients may have an autoimmune disease, manifesting as crooked mouth corners, disappearance of forehead wrinkles, and inability to fully close eyelids. Without treatment, only a few patients can recover completely, while most will leave varying degrees of sequelae. Early and aggressive treatment can help 80% of patients fully recover within 1 to 2 months.