A facial paralysis describes a condition when people cannot move their facial muscles voluntarily. It normally affects only one side of the face. The causes of facial paralysis are various. It is important to visit a neurologist in order to investigate the underlying cause and to get a proper treatment.
The facial nerve (nervus facialis) controls the movement of facial muscles. Once the facial nerve, its branches or nuclei are injured or damaged, the person is unable to control the facial muscles and suffer therefore from facial paralysis.
The cause of a facial paralysis is mainly due to inflammation or injury of the facial nerves. There are many factors that can result in the damage of facial nerves. For example: infections by bacteria and virus, damage caused during surgery, neurological diseases, facial traumas and fractures, and brain traumas. It can also be caused by damage to the nuclei of the facial nerve in the brain, for example due to a stroke. However there are plenty of possible causes, in the most common facial paralysis, the idiopathic facial nerve paralysis (Bell’s palsy), one is unable to identify a specific cause. Additionally, facial paralysis can also be caused by a congenital problem, such as an abnormal development of facial nerves or muscles, compression of the facial nerve in the womb or some other genetic problem. People with facial paralysis cannot move the facial muscles voluntarily. Mostly only one side of the face is affected, which will render the face asymmetrical. Depending on the localization, disorders in taste and hearing could also occur.
The treatment of facial paralysis will depend on its cause. It is important to determine the underlying problem and, if possible, to treat it. However, the facial palsy can often not be treated specifically. Nevertheless it mostly improves or heals spontaneously. This spontaneous healing process will often need much time. Therapies such as physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy will help to rehabilitate the muscles and nerves directed and quicker. In severe cases, surgery will be necessary to improve the condition, for example to correct hanging eyelids.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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