Treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve

Neuritis, Bell's paralysis or facial nerve neuropathy is a disease that develops due to the presence of an edema compressing the facial nerve. The appearance of the disease leads to the infringement of the facial nerve, impaired blood supply to the nerve channel and edema. Prerequisites for neuritis can be a feature of the structure of the nerve channel, which for each person is individual, and cooling by draft or using an air conditioner located behind the ear of the cervical region. Whatever the case, the treatment for neuritis of the facial nerve should be professional.

Facial neuritis is the primary - tunnel, cold, ischemic, arising on the background of hypothermia of the neck area behind the auricle. This type of neuritis is typical for people with a narrow structure of the temporal canal.

Secondary neuritis include:

• Hunt's syndrome (neuritis with shingles), representing a relapse of latent varicella, and combining herpetic eruptions on the mucous membrane of the pharynx, the tip of the tongue and the auricle, with all manifestations of facial neuritis;
• Neuritis of the facial nerve on the background of chronic otitis occurs when the infection-inflammatory process passes by contact from the middle ear;
• A rare disease - the syndrome of Melkerson-Rosenthal, is hereditary and paroxysmal. Includes a dense face, tongue in the fold and neuritis of the facial nerve;
• Neuritis of the facial nerve in "mumps" (epidemic parotitis) is accompanied by an increase in body temperature and swelling of the salivary glands.

Neuritis of the facial nerve can occur as a result of injuries, complications from infections or hypertensive crisis with relapsing and bilateral forms of the disease. Treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve is appointed depending on its cause.

The manifestation of facial neuritis is a noticeable restriction of the movement of the facial facial muscles, the growth of the asymmetry of the face - a skew to the healthy side, the smoothing and lowering of the nasolabial fold in the corner of the mouth, the wide opening of the eyelids on the affected side of the face and the inability to close the eye (Bell's symptom), raise an eyebrow, frown. The ability to sense the taste is lost. Perhaps the appearance of lachrymation and the symptom of "crocodile tears", drooling and dryness of the eyeball. It is also possible to increase the sensitivity of sound on the affected side.

EMG (electromyography) is used to accurately diagnose and establish the degree of muscle damage. Also can appoint CT or MRI to exclude possible other diseases of the nervous system.

To avoid residual effects and possible complications, treatment of the neuritis of the facial nerve should be started as soon as possible. It is recommended to use corticosteroids - prednisone: in the morning - 60 mg orally, 5 days in a row. For the next 10-14 days, the dose should be gradually reduced to a complete cancellation. Such a drug regimen is safe and allows you to minimize the edema and paralysis of the facial nerve within the canal, while treatment will give a complete recovery. Pain behind the auricle passes faster. In open eyelids recommend to instill a preparation of artificial tears.

Carry out a careful massage of the facial area, the collar zone and the occiput, gradually increasing its strength. Therapeutic physical exercises for facial muscles and physiotherapy procedures after the acute process is shown.

Treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve can be difficult. Therefore, for the treatment of badly difficult cases, sedatives - sibazole, sedusin, reium 4 times a day for 5-10 ml and phenobarbate 3 times a day for 30-60 mg are used. Reduces muscle spasms, reducing anxiety. To improve the course of the disease, you can apply diphenine 1 time per day for 300 mg. However, if the drug does not have the expected therapeutic effect, after two weeks it is canceled.

Treatment of secondary neuritis is performed with treatment of the underlying disease. Patients recover after 2-3 weeks. During the year, the process of the final restoration of all functions takes place.

Neuritis of the facial nerve in children and adults is dangerous due to its complications - the contra structure of the facial muscles. This is the reduction of the affected muscles, creating the impression that the healthy side of the face is paralyzed. Characteristic is the involuntary contraction of the facial muscles and a feeling of strong contraction. It can occur after 4 to 6 weeks with incomplete recovery of facial muscle functions.