Is facial neuritis inflammation?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Bell's palsy is essentially an inflammatory reaction, but this inflammation is a nonspecific type. It also exhibits the typical inflammatory symptoms of redness, swelling, heat, and pain. However, this inflammation is not caused by direct infection from viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Since Bell's palsy is an inflammatory condition, its treatment must include corticosteroids for management. Additionally, administration of B vitamins is necessary to promote nerve function recovery. Moreover, targeted rehabilitation exercises, acupuncture, and local physiotherapy from the rehabilitation department also play a vital role in the recovery from Bell's palsy. Generally, with proper and timely treatment, Bell's palsy can fully recover, and most patients will not experience any impact on their future quality of life. However, if the symptoms of Bell's palsy are very severe, and the patient has a history of diabetes, the prognosis may be poorer.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Facial neuritis hormone treatment

If the diagnosis of facial neuritis is confirmed, and the patient does not have evident history of femoral head necrosis or diabetes, then it is advocated to treat facial neuritis with corticosteroids. Corticosteroids can suppress some of the inflammatory responses of facial neuritis, reduce edema, and facilitate the swift recovery of facial nerve function. The current guidelines recommend the use of corticosteroids for treatment. However, if the patient has conditions like elevated blood sugar, femoral head necrosis, osteoporosis, or gastric ulcers, the use of corticosteroids must be cautious to avoid adverse reactions. During the administration of corticosteroids, it is crucial to ensure the patient receives supplements of calcium and potassium to prevent electrolyte disturbances and osteoporosis. Besides corticosteroids, intake of B vitamins can also aid in promoting the repair of nerve functions.

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Written by Li Min
Neurology
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Facial neuritis requires the use of steroids.

Bell's palsy, or facial neuritis, is caused by stimulation or viral infection of the facial nerves, leading to facial nerve paralysis. This generally refers to peripheral facial neuritis. Early treatment includes antiviral, anti-inflammatory, nerve nourishment, and free radical scavenging. Therefore, early treatment of facial neuritis requires steroid therapy, commonly using oral prednisone. The dosage is determined by body weight, at 1 milligram per kilogram, taken orally for a week, then discontinued. The next step in the treatment plan involves acupuncture and physical therapy. (Use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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What should be paid attention to for facial neuritis?

Patients with facial neuritis usually have an acute onset, with facial nerve paralysis peaking within hours or days. It mainly manifests as paralysis of the facial expression muscles, disappearance of forehead lines, inability to frown, and incomplete closure of the eyelids. Therefore, patients with facial neuritis should pay attention to eye protection since the eyelids cannot close fully. Long-term exposure and drying of the cornea make it susceptible to infection. Therefore, it is necessary to wear an eye patch for protection or use some medicinal solutions to prevent infection and protect the cornea. Additionally, since there is a viral infection, patients should also avoid being chilled. In terms of diet, it is advisable to eat light food and avoid greasy, overly rich, or excessively spicy foods.

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Written by Su Mei
Neurology
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Can facial neuritis be cured?

Patients with incomplete facial paralysis may recover or heal within one to two months, while those with complete facial paralysis generally need two to eight months, or even a year to recover, often leaving sequelae. Recovery of taste within a week indicates a good prognosis. Young patients have a better prognosis, while elderly patients with mastoid pain, diabetes, hypertension, cerebral arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and other conditions have a poorer prognosis. We generally use electromyography (EMG) to examine and predict outcomes. If a patient with complete facial paralysis shows an M-wave amplitude in the affected area's EMG action potentials that is 30% or more of the normal value within seven days of the illness, they may fully recover within two months. If optic nerve potentials appear within ten days after the onset of the illness, the recovery tends to be slow.

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Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
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Can facial neuritis be treated with hot compresses?

Facial neuritis can be treated with heat application, which can promote local blood circulation in the face and accelerate the repair of nerve functions. Patients with facial paralysis can control the water temperature at about 60°C during heat application, applying heat twice a day, each time for 10~15 minutes. It is important to prevent burns and treatments can also be combined with acupuncture and physiotherapy, which can nourish the nerves or use small doses of hormones. A light diet should be maintained, along with plenty of rest and adequate sleep. Avoid spicy, stimulating, excitatory foods, as well as raw, hard, and indigestible foods. Regularly eat fresh vegetables and fruits.