Crocodile tears syndrome, also known as gustatory lacrimal reflex or Bogorad syndrome, causes a person to cry while eating due to a lesion in the geniculate ganglion. Botulinum toxin injections can reduce or eliminate tears, and loved ones should offer support without drawing attention to the tears. Not all Bell’s palsy patients will experience this syndrome.
Crocodile tears syndrome is a popular name for a condition known as the gustatory lacrimal reflex or Bogorad syndrome. The medical condition usually appears during recovery from Bell’s palsy and affects the function of the facial nerve network. As a result, a person suffering from this syndrome may start crying while eating.
The main cause of this condition has to do with the presence of a lesion in the geniculate ganglion. The lesion may appear in the cranial nervous system and cause some degree of paralysis in the muscles of the face. As the nerve fibers begin to recover, the presence of the injury can lead to a malformation of a salivary gland into a lacrimal gland.
While trying to chew food, this aberration in gland regrowth can cause damaged nerve glands to release tears. The individual suffering from crocodile tears syndrome has no control over activity and may appear to cry while eating. While extremely frustrating, it should not be seen as a sign that the individual is unhappy or emotionally unstable.
Because many people don’t understand the cause of tears, well-meaning friends and family sometimes try to offer advice that isn’t applicable to the situation. This can cause the person suffering from the syndrome to start withdrawing from social situations. Rather than calling attention to the presence of tears during a meal, loved ones can best support the patient by making sure a clean tissue or tissues are on hand and continue as if nothing unusual is happening.
Treatments for crocodile tears syndrome are somewhat limited. One promising method of treating the condition is the administration of botulinum toxin, or Botox®. By injecting a small amount of botulinum toxin directly into the lacrimal gland, the amount of tears can be reduced or even eliminated.
It is important to note that not all people recovering from Bell’s palsy will experience crocodile tears syndrome. In fact, the chance of developing the condition during recovery is very low. Also, the degree of severity will vary from person to person. A qualified physician can determine the best course of treatment based on the frequency and level of discomfort the patient is experiencing.
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