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Although not age-specific, it affects young and middle-aged adults most often. BP does, however, have a higher prevalence among lower socioeconomic groups. During pregnancy or pregnancy-induced hypertension, the significant increase in vascular volume, particularly in the last trimester, triples the risk of facial neuropathy due to edema of the facial nerve and the resulting compression. BP is a diagnosis of exclusion. The disorder usually progresses for 7 to 10 days, with sudden onset of facial weakness. Recovery from BP begins at 3 weeks for most (85%) patients, with a full recovery by 6 months. A dry eye may result from reduced blinking.
The first priority in treating Bell's palsy or any type of facial paralysis is to eliminate the source of damage to the nerve as quickly as possible. As time goes on with constant or increasing compression, damage to the nerve can also increase.
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