Comparison between Cerebral Palsy and Bell's Palsy

Palsy is a term used for various types of paralysis, often accompanied by involuntary tremors. ‘Cerebral’ means having to do with the brain. Cerebral Palsy (CP) refers to a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and affect body movement and muscle coordination. CP is mainly caused by damage to or abnormalities in the developing brain and the treatment for Cerebral Palsy includes Stem Cell Therapy. 

Bell’s Palsy, on the other hand, is named after Scottish anatomist and surgeon Sir Charles Bell. It is a peripheral Palsy of the facial nerve that results in muscle weakness in one or sometimes in both sides of the face.

 

How is Cerebral Palsy different from Bell’s Palsy?

 

CP appears in infancy or early childhood, while Bell’s Palsy is idiopathic — a condition that arises spontaneously, and with an unknown cause. CP permanently affects body movement and muscle coordination, whereas Bell’s Palsy is a form of temporary facial paralysis.

 

Damage in cases of CP is irreparable and disabilities that result are permanent. On the contrary, symptoms of Bell’s Palsy appear suddenly over a 48-72 hour period and generally start to improve with or without treatment after a few weeks, with the recovery of some or all facial function within six months.  In some cases, residual muscle weakness lasts longer or may be permanent. 

 

Causes:

CP is caused by damage to or abnormalities inside the developing brain that disrupt the brain’s ability to control movement and maintain posture and balance. CP affects the motor area of the brain’s outer layer (called the cerebral cortex), the part of the brain that directs muscle movement. In some cases of CP, the cerebral motor cortex hasn’t developed normally during fetal growth. In others, the damage is a result of injury to the brain either before, during, or after birth.

 

On the other hand, the cause of Bell’s Palsy is unknown. It causes dysfunction of cranial nerve VII (facial nerve) which directs the muscles on one side of the face, including those that control eye blinking and closing, and facial expressions such as smiling. Generally, Bell's Palsy affects only one side of the face, however, in rare cases, it can affect both sides.

 

Symptoms:

The symptoms of CP differ in type and severity from one person to another, and may even change in an individual over time, depending on which parts of the brain have been injured. All persons with CP have problems with movement and posture, and some also have some level of intellectual disability, seizures, and abnormal physical sensations or perceptions, as well as other medical disorders. People with CP may also have impaired vision or hearing, and language, and speech problems.

 

CP is the leading cause of childhood disabilities, but it doesn’t always cause profound disabilities. While one child with severe CP might be unable to walk and need extensive, lifelong care, another child with mild CP might be only slightly awkward and require no special assistance. The disorder isn’t progressive, meaning it doesn’t get worse over time. However, as the child gets older, certain symptoms may become more or less evident.

Symptoms of Bell's Palsy like CP can vary from person to person and range in severity from mild weakness to total paralysis. However, in Bell’s Palsy, the most common symptom is the sudden weakness of one side of the face. Other symptoms may include drooping of the mouth, drooling, inability to close an eye, and excessive tearing in one eye. Individuals may also have facial pain or abnormal sensation, altered taste, and intolerance to loud noise. Most often these symptoms lead to significant facial distortion.

Treatment:

Cerebral Palsy can’t be cured, but treatment will often improve a child's capabilities.  Many children go on to enjoy near-normal adult lives if their disabilities are properly managed. The treatment for Cerebral Palsy usually consists of Stem Cell Therapy along with an intensive rehabilitation program, which includes occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy, and language therapy.

 

On the other hand, the prognosis for individuals with Bell's Palsy is generally very good. Clinical evidence of improvement occurs within three weeks in 85 percent of cases, and most individuals eventually recover normal facial function with the help of rehabilitative treatment.