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Central facial palsy is a neurological disorder that causes paralysis in the middle or lower face due to swelling of the seventh cranial nerve. It can be caused by a stroke, brain tumor, or birth trauma, and treatment depends on the cause. Birth trauma can lead to facial paralysis in newborns, while strokes and brain tumors can also cause central facial paralysis. High blood pressure, smoking, and a diet high in fat and salt increase the risk of stroke. Brain tumors can cause central facial paralysis along with speech and hearing problems, headaches, and seizures.
Central facial palsy refers to a neurological disorder that causes paralysis in the middle or lower face; the forehead is usually unaffected. It occurs when the seventh cranial nerve that controls facial movement swells due to a stroke, brain tumor, or birth trauma. This nerve sends electrical signals from the brain to certain facial regions. Treatment of central facial paralysis depends on its cause.
The birth trauma that leads to facial paralysis typically appears in a newborn’s lips. The signs usually become more apparent when the baby cries because each side of the mouth may move differently. Sometimes the eye on the affected side of the face also looks different. Facial paralysis commonly goes away on its own, but may require therapeutic treatment if it becomes permanent.
Damage to the seventh cranial nerve could occur shortly before birth or during the delivery process. The exact cause is unknown, but several factors could contribute to central facial paralysis in newborns, including improper use of forceps during delivery. A long and difficult labor associated with an older-than-average baby could also increase the risk, especially in mothers with diabetes. Some anesthetic drugs that block pain, along with drugs to induce labor, could also damage the nerve.
A stroke could cause central facial paralysis by weakening the muscles on one side of the face. It could affect muscle movement that affects speech and other muscles on the same side of the body. Strokes are classified as ischemic or hemorrhagic, but both can lead to facial paralysis.
An ischemic stroke occurs if a blood clot cuts off the blood supply to the brain for more than a couple of seconds. A clot could appear in a blocked artery in the brain or travel from another area of the body to the brain. Clogged arteries contribute to the risk of stroke, which occurs when plaque builds up inside the veins. In a hemorrhagic stroke, blood leaks into the brain after a blood vessel bursts.
The main risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure. Risks also increase in patients who smoke, drink excessively, and consume a diet high in fat and salt. Obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and vascular disorders also increase the risk of stroke.
If a brain tumor puts pressure on the facial nerves, central facial paralysis is possible, along with speech and hearing problems, headaches, and seizures. A tumor develops when abnormal cells grow into a mass. They can be malignant or non-malignant and lead to swelling of the nerve.
