title: Virology studies and Bell's palsy.
abstract: A retrospective analysis of 104 cases of facial nerve paralysis is presented, attention being focused on possible clues to link Bell's palsy with a virus infection. The findings are compared to those of another larger prospective series of cases. Some recent developments which suggest that Bell's palsy represents a reactivation of herpes simplex virus, rather than a primary infection, are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014780:Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*