Diseases

Bell Palsy

A syndrome characterized by the acute onset of unilateral FACIAL PARALYSIS which progresses over a 2-5 day period. Weakness of the orbicularis oculi muscle and resulting incomplete eye closure may be associated with corneal injury. Pain behind the ear often precedes the onset of paralysis. This condition may be associated with HERPESVIRUS 1, HUMAN infection of the facial nerve. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1376)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A syndrome characterized by the acute onset of unilateral FACIAL PARALYSIS which progresses over a 2-5 day period. Weakness of the orbicularis oculi muscle and resulting incomplete eye closure may be associated with corneal injury. Pain behind the ear often precedes the onset of paralysis. This condition may be associated with HERPESVIRUS 1, HUMAN infection of the facial nerve. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1376)

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

26 entry terms
  • Acute Idiopathic Facial Neuropathy
  • Acute Inflammatory Facial Neuropathy
  • Bell's Palsy
  • Facial Neuropathy, Idiopathic Acute
  • Facial Neuropathy, Inflammatory, Acute
  • Facial Paralysis, Idiopathic
  • Idiopathic Acute Facial Neuropathy
  • Inflammatory Facial Neuropathy, Acute
  • Bell Palsies
  • Bell's Palsies
  • Bells Palsy
  • Facial Paralyses, Idiopathic
  • Idiopathic Facial Paralyses
  • Idiopathic Facial Paralysis
  • Palsies, Bell
  • Palsies, Bell's
  • Palsy, Bell
  • Palsy, Bell's
  • Paralyses, Idiopathic Facial
  • Paralysis, Idiopathic Facial
  • Herpetic Facial Paralysis
  • Facial Paralyses, Herpetic
  • Facial Paralysis, Herpetic
  • Herpetic Facial Paralyses
  • Paralyses, Herpetic Facial
  • Paralysis, Herpetic Facial

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

35 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

2000; for BELL'S PALSY use Facial Paralysis 1966-1999

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Facial Paralysis (1966-1999)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C01w.925w.256.466.087w
  2. C07.465w.094w
  3. C07.465w.299.250w
  4. C10w.292w.319.250w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Bell Palsy. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D020330. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D020330
  2. Bell Palsy. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell%27s_palsy
  3. Bell Palsy. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1135338