Facial Nerve Palsy: Medical History

Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of facial nerve palsy.

Family history

  • What is the general health of your family members?
  • Are there any diseases in your family that are common?
  • Are there any hereditary diseases in your family?

Social history

  • What is your profession?
  • Do you often go to the forest?

Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).

  • Have you noticed that you can no longer close the eyelid completely?
  • Have you noticed that the corner of your mouth is hanging?
  • Did fluid leak from your mouth when you were drinking?
  • Have you noticed any hearing disturbances?
  • Have you noticed any taste disturbances?
  • How long have these complaints been present?
  • Within what time have the complaints developed?
  • What paralysis did you notice?
  • Are you able to smile? Or is your face distorted when you do so?
  • Are their forehead muscles mobile, i.e. is frowning possible?
  • When speaking, do you have difficulty pronouncing the words?
  • Do you have any pain? If so, where are they localized?
  • Is only one side of the face affected or both?

Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.

  • Do you smoke? If yes, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
  • Do you drink alcohol more often? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses of it per day?
  • Do you use drugs? If yes, which drugs and how often per day or per week?

Self history incl. medication history.

  • Pre-existing conditions (infectious diseases (eg, Lyme disease: question after tick bite or erythema migrans / wandering redness), neurological diseases, ENT diseases).
  • Operations (neurosurgical operations, operations in the ENT area).
  • Radiotherapy
  • Vaccination status
  • Allergies
  • Pregnancies (forceps delivery?)
  • Environmental history
  • Medication history

In case of new onset of paralysis symptoms (of any kind), an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Information without guarantee)