Eight episodes of Bell's palsy in an elderly male: a rare presentation

ABSTRACT

Bell's palsy is a common, idiopathic, lower motor neuron paralysis of the facial nerve. Multiple recurrent episodes, however, are rare. Most recurrent facial palsies are usually attributable to specific organic, environmental or familial causes. The highest number of idiopathic recurrences reported is eleven, while that in Asia is five. We present a unique case of eight relapses of Bell's palsy in an elderly Pakistani male. Extensive work-up failed to reveal a cause for the continued recurrence, which was associated with considerable loss of function over time