Clipping Board » Disease & Prevention ─ Understanding diseases, prevention is better than cure.
2009/10/02 [Taiwan New Life News / Reporter Su Xiangyun / Taipei Report]
After recovering from a cold, do not let your guard down, as facial nerve palsy may be lying in wait. Dr. Chen Peihao, a neurologist at Mackay Memorial Hospital, noted that clinical observations indicate a recent increase in facial nerve palsy cases over the past two weeks. On average, each outpatient session sees about 3 to 4 patients with facial nerve palsy. Many of these patients reported having experienced cold or gastrointestinal symptoms in the recent past, even if the symptoms were mild or had already resolved. However, the onset of facial nerve palsy was just beginning to manifest.
Dr. Chen explained that viruses often remain latent in nerve ganglia. When a person is under significant stress, lacks sufficient sleep, or has weakened immunity, viruses hidden in the ganglia—such as the varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox)—can become active and attack the facial nerve, among other areas. Seasonal transitions are particularly high-risk periods for viral activity, making facial nerve palsy more likely to occur.
Dr. Chen pointed out that facial nerve palsy is primarily caused by viral attacks on the facial nerve and can be broadly categorized into two types. The first and most common is "Bell's palsy," mainly caused by herpes simplex virus infection. The second type is facial nerve palsy triggered by the varicella-zoster virus.
For the more common "Bell's palsy," treatment may involve the use of steroid medications within the first week of onset. A Canadian study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in early September suggested that combining antiviral drugs with steroids increases recovery chances more effectively than using steroids alone.
Facial nerve palsy caused by the varicella-zoster virus is also known as "Ramsay Hunt syndrome." This condition is more severe, with patients potentially developing blisters or small red rashes around the ear canal and eyes, which can affect hearing and vision. Doctors typically treat this with antiviral medications.
Dr. Chen proposed the "333" rule: symptoms are most severe and noticeable within the first "3 days" of onset; mild cases may recover within "3 weeks"; if recovery is not progressing well after "3 months," patients may be left with long-term complications. He emphasized that early treatment leads to better outcomes and cautioned against seeking unverified remedies, as delays can make treatment more challenging.
Source: http://mag. udn. com/ mag/ life/ storypage. jsp? f_ART_ID=214497
Beware of Facial Paralysis after Cold Recovery
After recovering from a cold, do not let your guard down, as facial nerve palsy may be lying in wait. Dr. Chen Peihao, a neurologist at Mackay Memorial Hospital, noted that clinical observations indicate a recent increase in facial nerve palsy cases over the past two weeks. On average, each outpatient session sees about 3 to 4 patients with facial nerve palsy. Many of these patients reported having experienced cold or gastrointestinal symptoms in the recent past, even if the symptoms were mild or had already resolved. However, the onset of facial nerve palsy was just beginning to manifest.
Dr. Chen explained that viruses often remain latent in nerve ganglia. When a person is under significant stress, lacks sufficient sleep, or has weakened immunity, viruses hidden in the ganglia—such as the varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox)—can become active and attack the facial nerve, among other areas. Seasonal transitions are particularly high-risk periods for viral activity, making facial nerve palsy more likely to occur.
Dr. Chen pointed out that facial nerve palsy is primarily caused by viral attacks on the facial nerve and can be broadly categorized into two types. The first and most common is "Bell's palsy," mainly caused by herpes simplex virus infection. The second type is facial nerve palsy triggered by the varicella-zoster virus.
For the more common "Bell's palsy," treatment may involve the use of steroid medications within the first week of onset. A Canadian study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in early September suggested that combining antiviral drugs with steroids increases recovery chances more effectively than using steroids alone.
Facial nerve palsy caused by the varicella-zoster virus is also known as "Ramsay Hunt syndrome." This condition is more severe, with patients potentially developing blisters or small red rashes around the ear canal and eyes, which can affect hearing and vision. Doctors typically treat this with antiviral medications.
Dr. Chen proposed the "333" rule: symptoms are most severe and noticeable within the first "3 days" of onset; mild cases may recover within "3 weeks"; if recovery is not progressing well after "3 months," patients may be left with long-term complications. He emphasized that early treatment leads to better outcomes and cautioned against seeking unverified remedies, as delays can make treatment more challenging.
Source: http://mag. udn. com/ mag/ life/ storypage. jsp? f_ART_ID=214497