ENTNeurology
Bell's Palsy / Facial Nerve Palsy
Distinguish Bell's (idiopathic LMN) from secondary; oral steroid + eye protection.
Source: ENT UK 2017; AAN
Step 1 of ~2
info
Recognise + Differentiate
Bell's palsy: acute (<72h) idiopathic peripheral (LMN) facial paralysis. Diagnosis of exclusion.
LMN vs UMN: LMN affects forehead (cannot raise eyebrow); UMN spares forehead.
Exclude secondary: stroke, Ramsay Hunt (vesicles in ear / palate; severe pain), Lyme (especially endemic; bilateral), otitis media, tumour, trauma, MS, sarcoidosis.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Drugs
- Valaciclovir (ENT — Ramsay Hunt / Bell's Palsy) · Antiviral (Prodrug of Aciclovir)
- Morphine (IV/IM — Anaesthesia/ICU) · Strong Opioid Analgesic
- Metoprolol (IV/Oral — Cardiology) · Beta-Blocker
- Dabigatran (AF / VTE) · Direct Oral Anticoagulant / AF
- Edoxaban (AF / VTE) · Direct Oral Anticoagulant / AF
- Rivaroxaban (AF / ACS) · Direct Oral Anticoagulant / AF / ACS
Pathways
- Adult Upper Airway Obstruction (Stridor) · DAS 2015 unanticipated difficult airway; RCEM
- Epistaxis Management · ENT-UK / NICE
- Acute Otitis Media · NICE NG91 2018
- Tonsillitis and Sore Throat · NICE NG84 2018
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo · NICE CG124 / AAO-HNS Guidelines
- Acute Rhinosinusitis · NICE NG79 2017 / EPOS 2020
Decision support only. Always apply local guidelines and clinical judgement.