Neuritis of the facial nerve is a disease that is associated with the pathology of the facial nerve. This nerve is the seventh cranial nerve. He responds to facial expressions, as well as movements of the lips and eyelids.
Facial neuritis, as a rule, occurs completelysuddenly. The entire half of the person innervated by the nerve is affected. The cause of this disease has not yet been established. It is believed that some viral diseases lead to it.
Development of the disease occurs within forty-eight hours. In some cases, patients feel pain behind the ear.
Neuritis of the facial nerve leads to the fact thata person can not close an eye that is on the affected side. In some cases, the eyelid is turned out. On the affected side everything hangs, the patient loses the ability to move the muscles of the face. The patient can not close his eyes, they are constantly open, which means that the drying begins. This leads to conjunctivitis and even to keratitis.
Neuritis of the facial nerve leads to loss of taste, dry mouth.
What are the reasons
There are several reasons:
- Toxic effect. This includes alcohol abuse, carbon monoxide poisoning and so on;
- trauma;
- infection of the face or ear;
- various diseases of the nervous system;
metabolic diseases.
How to identify the disease
A variety of different tools are used for diagnosis. It is necessary to determine the exact causes of the disease. In the future, this will help to choose the appropriate method of treatment.
For diagnostics apply:
- balance test;
- tear test (the ability to produce tears can be indicative of many things);
- study of the ear (an auditory nerve is evaluated);
- taste test;
- electric targets (nerve stimulation by electric current);
- Radiodiagnosis.
Treatment of facial nerve neuropathy
Basically, the success of treatment depends on the reason for the illness that arose.
Today most often neuropathy of the facial nerveis treated with corticosteroids. In the event that the cause of the disease was a virus, the doctor prescribes antiviral drugs. For example, "Acyclovir." Relief in this case will come about in about five days. After this, the patient will be treated with corticosteroids.
Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment are popular. They are used quite often, although the benefits from them are not so great.
Neuritis of the facial nerve can be treated andsurgically. When it is decompressed, that is, the release of the facial nerve. This method is controversial. As a rule, it is used in the first stage of the disease.
Eye protection
As already mentioned above, this diseasefor one reason or another, the eyes suffer. The cornea can dry out, and this is a big trouble. For eye protection, it is recommended to wear special glasses that are able to protect from dust. It is also recommended to constantly close your eyes, use drops and ointments.
Restoration of facial nerve functions
The methods here can be used the following:
- Permutation of the nerve;
- muscle transplantation;
- microsurgical nerve repair;
- Rearrangement of muscles.
In most cases, the patient can completelyrecover only six months from the time the treatment was started. Do not forget that it is important to reliably eliminate the underlying disease - the very thing that caused the neuritis of the optic nerve.
It is important to look after the eyes properly. If the care is wrong, problems will arise. This means that it is necessary to comply with all the recommendations of the doctor.
In some cases, serious complications can occur not only with the eyes. The disease can last for a long time, and the treatment will continue for a long time.
