Facial palsy
Facial nerve palsy is a dysfunction of cranial nerve VII (the facial nerve) that results in inability to control facial muscles on the affected side with weakness of the muscles of facial expression and eye closure. This can either be present in unilateral or bilateral form.
Also called: Bell's palsy, Cranial nerve VII palsy, Facial nerve palsy, Facial nerve paralysis, Facial palsy, unilateral or bilateral, Seventh cranial nerve palsy, VII th cranial nerve palsy, Facial muscle weakness of muscles innervated by CN VII.
Conditions associated with facial palsy
The following conditions have been associated with facial palsy in medical literature. This is informational and not a diagnosis.
AGel amyloidosis
AGel amyloidosis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Alexander disease
Alexander disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Amoebiasis due to free-living amoebae
Amoebiasis due to free-living amoebae is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and ...
Anoctamin-5-related limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R12
Anoctamin-5-related limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R12 is a medical condition that may be associated with vari...
Arachnoid cyst
Arachnoid cyst is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia
Autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia is a medical condition that may be associated with var...
Autosomal recessive progressive external ophthalmoplegia
Autosomal recessive progressive external ophthalmoplegia is a medical condition that may be associated with va...
Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis
Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and sig...
Blau syndrome
Blau syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Brown-Vialetto-van Laere syndrome 1
Any Brown-Vialetto-van Laere syndrome in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the SLC52A3 gene....
Brown-Vialetto-van Laere syndrome 2
Any Brown-Vialetto-van Laere syndrome in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the SLC52A2 gene....
Carey-Fineman-Ziter syndrome 1
A rare condition characterized by the association of hypotonia, Moebius sequence (bilateral congenital facial ...
Centronuclear myopathy 1
Centronuclear myopathy 1 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Coffin-Siris syndrome 12
Coffin-Siris syndrome 12 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Congenital multicore myopathy with external ophthalmoplegia
Congenital multicore myopathy with external ophthalmoplegia is a medical condition that may be associated with...
Ethylene glycol poisoning
Ethylene glycol poisoning is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Full NF2-related schwannomatosis
Full NF2-related schwannomatosis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs...
GNE myopathy
GNE myopathy is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Helsmoortel-van der Aa syndrome
Helsmoortel-van der Aa syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Japanese encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Laminin subunit alpha 2-related congenital muscular dystrophy
Laminin subunit alpha 2-related congenital muscular dystrophy is a medical condition that may be associated wi...
MEGF10-related myopathy
A congenital myopathy caused by mutations in the multiple epidermal growth factor-like domains 10 (MEGF10) gen...
Marchiafava-Bignami disease
Marchiafava-Bignami disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Meningioma
Meningioma is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Miller Fisher syndrome
Miller Fisher syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle, type 1E
Muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle, type 1E is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms a...
Myopathy, distal, 1
Myopathy, distal, 1 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Nemaline myopathy 3
Nemaline myopathy 3 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Postsynaptic congenital myasthenic syndrome
Postsynaptic congenital myasthenic syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptom...
Riboflavin transporter deficiency
Riboflavin transporter deficiency is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and sign...
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Stroke
Sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain, causing rapid loss of brain function. Time-critical medical em...
Synaptic congenital myasthenic syndrome
Synaptic congenital myasthenic syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms an...
Tick-borne encephalitis
Tick-borne encephalitis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Transient Ischemic Attack
A temporary episode of neurological dysfunction caused by a brief interruption of blood flow to the brain, oft...
Trichinellosis
Trichinellosis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Typical nemaline myopathy
Typical nemaline myopathy is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2H
Autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2H (LGMD2H) is a mild subtype of autosomal recessive l...
biotin-responsive basal ganglia disease
Any thiamine-responsive dysfunction syndrome in which the cause of the disease is a variation in the SLC19A3 g...
choanal atresia-athelia-hypothyroidism-delayed puberty-short stature syndrome
Choanal atresia-athelia-hypothyroidism-delayed puberty-short stature syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorde...
Tests providers may use to investigate facial palsy
When investigating facial palsy, a healthcare provider may order one or more of the following laboratory tests. Test selection is a clinical decision made by a qualified professional.
CBC with Differential
Measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to help evaluate overall health and detect disorder...
Cbc, Cmp, Ua, Thyroid, & Lipid Health Tests
Our standard health test panel includes thyroid testing, a CBC, CMP, Urinalysis, & Lipid Panel. These lab test...
Cholesterol & Lipid Test Panels
A complete cholesterol test (a lipid panel or lipid profile) is a blood test that can measure the amount of ty...
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Measures 14 substances in the blood to assess kidney and liver function, electrolyte balance, and blood sugar ...
Free T4
Measures the active form of thyroxine to help evaluate thyroid function....
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
Reflects average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months....
Homocysteine Levels Test
The homocysteine blood test is used to help determine heart disease, heart attack or stroke risks. If also can...
Lipid Panel
Measures cholesterol and triglycerides to assess cardiovascular risk....
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Screens for thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism....
Urinalysis
Examines urine content to help detect urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes....
Symptoms commonly seen alongside facial palsy
Dizziness
A feeling of lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or faintness, which can be caused by many conditions....
Dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing....
Fatigue
A subjective feeling of tiredness characterized by a lack of energy and motivation....
Fever
Body temperature elevated above the normal range....
Seizure
A seizure is an intermittent abnormality of nervous system physiology characterized by a transient occurrence ...
Slurred Speech
Difficulty speaking clearly with slurred or slow speech, which can be a sign of stroke, neurological condition...
When to seek care
Seek care from a qualified healthcare provider if facial palsy is severe, persistent, worsening, or accompanied by concerning symptoms. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the symptom facial palsy mean?
Facial palsy is a health sign or symptom described in medical literature. Facial nerve palsy is a dysfunction of cranial nerve VII (the facial nerve) that results in inability to control facial muscles on the affected side with weakness of the muscles of facial expression and eye closure. This can either be present in unilateral or bilateral form.
Which conditions are associated with facial palsy?
Facial palsy has been reported in association with 54 conditions in the medical literature we index, including AGel amyloidosis, Alexander disease, Amoebiasis due to free-living amoebae, Anoctamin-5-related limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R12, Arachnoid cyst. These associations do not mean you have any of these conditions.
Should I see a doctor about facial palsy?
You should discuss any persistent or concerning symptoms with a qualified healthcare provider. This website does not provide diagnosis. If you have severe symptoms or signs of a medical emergency, seek care immediately.