Can mumps cause facial paralysis?
Mumps generally does not cause facial paralysis. This disease is an inflammation caused by a viral infection of the salivary glands. Patients mainly exhibit symptoms of redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the area of the salivary glands, primarily located behind the ears. It occurs mostly in children, but adults can also contract the disease. Treatment mainly involves antiviral medications and drugs that clear heat and detoxify, as well as possible physical therapy. Facial paralysis, also known as facial neuritis, is caused by a viral invasion that leads to the demyelination of the facial nerve. This might also be related to exposure to cold winds. The main symptoms include paralysis of the facial expression muscles affecting the eyelids and other facial features, which may lead to widened eye slits, disappearance of forehead lines, flattening of the nasolabial fold, and deviation of the mouth corner. There may also be issues such as air leakage while whistling.