title: Acute facial paralysis: is it a stroke--or something else?
abstract: Acute facial paralysis, particularly when it occurs in older patients with diabetes and/or hypertension, can raise the specter of "stroke." A careful history and clinical examination, however, may establish the diagnosis of Bell's palsy, and this is usually possible without expensive additional testing.
authors.affiliation: Institute on Aging, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Finestone
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Byers
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone