title: [Facial palsy: diagnosis and management by primary care physicians].
abstract: The incidence of facial palsy is about 50/100000/year, i.e. 210 cases/year in Geneva. Clinicians can be puzzled by it, because it encompasses aetiologies with very diverse prognoses. Most patients suffer from Bell palsy that evolves favourably. Some, however, suffer from diseases such as meningitis, HIV infection, Lyme's disease, CVA, that require fast identification because of their severity and of the need for specific treatments. This article proposes an algorithm for pragmatic and evidence-based management of facial palsy.
authors.affiliation: Service d'urgences médicales, Hôpital de la Tour, Av. J.-D. Maillard 3, 1217 Meyrin. vincent_alva@hotmail.com
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dussoix
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gaspoz
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000465:Algorithms; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D011241:Prednisone; D000212:Acyclovir