BMJ  2004;329 (4 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7465.0-e

Bell's palsy responds best to immediate treatment

Patients with Bell's palsy should start treatment immediately and be referred to a specialist. Holland and Weiner (p 553) say that facial palsy improves with combined oral acyclovir and prednisolone, but treatment for patients with partial Bell's palsy is controversial. Treatment is probably more effective if started within 72 hours, and less effective if started after seven days. The most common cause of Bell's palsy is herpes viruses, but a fifth of the cases have an alternative cause that should be managed appropriately.

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Relevant Article

Recent developments in Bell's palsy

N Julian Holland and Graeme M Weiner
BMJ 2004 329: 553-557. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]