Facial paralysis is generally referred to as facial nerve palsy, usually caused by localized nerve compression, or injury. It can be divided into central nerve palsy and peripheral nerve palsy, which are related to stroke, tumor and infection, trauma, cold and other factors respectively.
1. Central nerve palsy
(1) Stroke: Usually, when patients suffer from cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage, the facial nerve is compressed, which often induces central facial nerve palsy.
(2) Tumor: It refers to facial nerve sheath tumor, auditory neuroma, brainstem tumor, pontine cerebellar peduncle tumor and meningioma. Compression of facial nerve can also lead to central facial nerve palsy.
2. Peripheral nerve palsy
(1) Infection: due to fungal, bacterial or viral infection caused by encephalitis, otitis media, Hunter’s syndrome, mumps, mastoiditis, labyrinthitis, Lyme disease, etc., the inflammation caused by the above diseases can lead to the local nerve edema, resulting in compression of the nerves, which can induce peripheral nerve palsy.
(2) Trauma: If the patient has facial trauma, medical injury, temporal bone fracture or neonatal birth injury, the local nerve is damaged, and peripheral nerve palsy may also occur.
(3) Cold: In the case of idiopathic facial nerve palsy, it is associated with the change of seasons, due to cold air irritation affecting the facial nerves, coupled with viral infections and other factors. Generally the lower the temperature, the higher the risk of the disease.
It is recommended that patients who develop facial nerve palsy should seek prompt medical attention and take reasonable treatment under the guidance of doctors.