With a post on social networks, he canceled his participation for the concert on 12 July at the Forte di Bard, in the Aosta Valley. The reason? A sudden Paralysis of Bell.
As Simone Cristicchi He had to warn how many follow him of his “temporary condition that requires rest and attention“.
But what is it about?
What is Bell’s paralysis
Also called paralysis of the facial nerve, it is a facial paralysis, determined by a dysfunction of the VII Cranico Nervowhich is manifested in the first instance with muscle weakness or paralysis in one side of the face. In most cases, it results from one inflammation of the facial nerve, probably related to a viral infection.
The involvement of the seventh cranial nerve is evident when observing the difficulty in controlling the facial muscles from the affected side, in addition to the loss of the sense of taste in two front thirds of the tongue. Bell’s paralysis, in fact, visibly alters the appearance of the face, influencing, for example, the ability to smile or close the eyelids.
Fortunately, in many cases, this disorder is self -limiting and tends to solve itself within a few weeks or months. In addition, early treatment with corticosteroids and antiviral drugs can speed up the recovery process.
What can Bell’s paralysis be triggered?
Bell’s paralysis develops above all after an inflammation of a compression of the seventh cranial nerve. Although the precise cause is not always clear, it is suspected that the condition is frequently linked to a viral infection: when a virus affects the body, it can trigger the inflammation of the facial nerve, which controls the muscles of one side of the face.
An inflammatory process that can cause swelling along the nerve, with consequent reduced blood flow. Among the viruses that have been associated with Bell’s paralysis are: Herpes Simplex, Herpes Zoster (Head of Chickenpox and Fire of Sant’Antonio) and the Epstein-Barr virus (Mononucleosis).
Other conditions that may encourage the onset of Bell’s paralysis include:
• cold or flu
• HIV infection
• Lyme disease
• Hand-pity disease
• rosolia
• Chronic medium ear infections
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Tumors (for example, to the parotid gland or the brain)
• sarcoidosis
• trauma, such as cranial fractures and facial injuries
Bell’s paralysis can hit anyone, but it is more frequent among people aged between 15 and 60, in particular among diabetics and pregnant women, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy or in the first week after childbirth.
The symptoms of Bell’s paralysis
Bell’s paralysis is characterized by the weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles on one side of the face. In rare cases, it can affect both sides of the face. The symptoms develop rapidly and reach their maximum within 48 hours, causing a considerable distortion of the face. The intensity of the disorder can vary from a slight numbness to a total paralysis.
The typical signs of Bell’s paralysis include:
• numbness, weakness or paralysis complete with one side of the face
• Lowering the eyelid and the corner of the mouth, difficulty in making facial expressions, eating or drinking, smiling or closing the eye from the affected side
• Ecessive salivation (Sciallorrora)
• Ectropion (the lower eyelid reverses outwards)
• Internal pain or behind the ear and greater sensitivity to sounds
• pain around the jaw
• irritation to the affected eye, with excessive tearing or eye dryness
• Dizziness, headache or neck pain
• Difficulty in speaking
• alterations or reduction of the sense of taste
Generally, the symptoms begin to improve within two or three weeks.
How to distinguish a stroke from Bell’s paralysis?
Bell’s paralysis is not caused by a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (Tia). If the facial paralysis is bilateral or if other parts of the body have signs of paralysis, weakness or insensitivity, it is essential that a doctor performs a thorough evaluation to exclude other possible causes.
Complications of Bell’s paralysis
The possible complications of Bell’s paralysis can be:
• corneal ulcers (caused by excessive dryness or abrasions of the cornea);
• permanent damage to the facial nerve;
• involuntary muscle spasms or facial contractions (syncinesia).
