title: A case of Bell's palsy associated with blepharospasm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bell's palsy is the most common acute mononeuropathy, with an incidence of 20 to 30 cases per 100,000 people per year.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Blepharospasm associated with Bell's palsy has been rarely reported. We describe an unusual presentation of Bell's palsy associated with blepharospasm.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 44-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department with a few hours' history of right eye blepharospasm. His cornea and conjunctiva were normal on slit lamp examination, including fluorescein staining. His cranial nerves were intact except for a complete right facial nerve weakness, with the patient unable to raise his right eyebrow, and his mouth deviated towards the left. The patient was diagnosed with Bell's palsy associated with blepharospasm and discharged home on prednisone and famciclovir. By the eighth week he was back to baseline with no sequelae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although very rare, physicians should be aware of the existence of Bell's palsy associated with blepharospasm, as it may be under-reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48230, USA.
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abou Dagher
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Younes
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomlanovich
mesh_terms: D015075:2-Aminopurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001764:Blepharospasm / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D000077595:Famciclovir; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D015075:2-Aminopurine; D000077595:Famciclovir; D011241:Prednisone