Bell's Palsy vs Cerebral Palsy

Palsy refers to disorder of movement. Cerebral palsy is a term used to refer to a group of motor disorders which cause movement disabilities. Bell’s palsy is restriction of movement of facial muscles.

Comparison chart

Improve this chart	Bell's Palsy	Cerebral Palsy
Area affected:	Bell's palsy affects the facial muscles.	Cerebral palsy affects the Cerebrum
Progression:	Rapid progression with partial or complete palsy within a single day.	Non progressive motor conditions.
Characterized by:	Facial drooping	Abnormal muscle tone like slouching while sitting.
Diagnosis:	Diagnosis by exclusion, eliminating all other reasonable possibilities.	Analysis of patient’s history and physical examination.
Treatment:	Self limiting condition, hence treatment might be unnecessary.	No cure hence symptomatic supportive therapies are used to help patient live effectively.
ICD-10:	G51	G80
ICD-9:	351	343
DiseaseDB:	1303	2232
eMedicine:	emerg/56	neuro/533; pmr/24
MeSH:	D020330	D002547
OMIM:		603513; 605388

1 Definitions of Bell's palsy and cerebral palsy
2 Physiology of the diseases
3 Symptoms of cerebral vs Bell's palsy
4 Causes of Bell's vs cerebral palsy
5 Treatment
6 Related Articles
7 References

edit Definitions of Bell's palsy and cerebral palsy

Bell’s palsy is an idiopathic unilateral facial nerve paralysis while cerebral palsy is group of permanent disorders leading to activity and movement restrictions. Though Bell’s palsy is a rapidly progressive condition it is self limiting. Cerebral palsy is non progressive but deterioration of symptoms can occur due to subdural damage.

edit Physiology of the diseases

In Bell’s palsy the facial nerve or the VII cranial nerve is affected due to which there is swelling leading to nerve inhibition, damage or death. Cerebral palsy occurs due to disorders in connections between cortex and parts of the cerebellum.

edit Symptoms of cerebral vs Bell's palsy

Activities like closing of eye, blinking, frowning, lacrimation, salivation and smiling are affected due to Bell's palsy. The eye present on the affected side remains open and there is marked facial drooping.

Cerebral palsy is characterized by deformities, spasms, involuntary facial gestures, unsteady gait, scissor walking etc. speech and language disorders are common due to poor respiratory control.

edit Causes of Bell's vs cerebral palsy

Bell’s palsy can be caused due to reactivation of viruses belonging to the herpes family by environmental conditions, stress etc. Cerebral palsy is believed to occur due to a number of reasons like, infection during pregnancy, asphyxia before birth, birth trauma, complications on prenatal period, multiple births, childhood trauma, severe jaundice, exposure to toxins etc.

edit Treatment

Bell’s palsy improves with use of corticosteroids, but most people recover spontaneously even without treatment. Cerebral palsy has no cure, but patients are subjected to various forms of therapies like occupational therapy, speech therapy, cord blood therapy, conductive education, massage therapy, physiotherapy etc even surgery. People inflicted with this disorder have many learning disabilities but the underlying brain injury prevents them from expressing their cognitive abilities.

Comparison chart

Contents

edit Definitions of Bell's palsy and cerebral palsy

edit Physiology of the diseases

edit Symptoms of cerebral vs Bell's palsy

edit Causes of Bell's vs cerebral palsy

edit Treatment

edit Related Articles

edit References

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