A 45-year-old patient presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of unilateral facial droop including the forehead, inability to close the eye on the affected side, and decreased taste sensation. There is no reported pain. What is the most likely diagnosis?
The symptoms described are typical of Bell's palsy, which involves unilateral facial nerve paralysis that often presents suddenly. Key features distinguishing Bell's palsy include the involvement of the forehead and the absence of other neurological deficits. In conditions like stroke, the upper facial muscles (forehead) are typically spared due to bilateral upper motor neuron innervation. The lack of pain also helps distinguish it from trigeminal neuralgia, which is characterized by severe, episodic facial pain.
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What is Bell's palsy, and how does it affect the facial nerve?
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Maxillofacial and Ocular Emergencies
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