Acute Facial Palsy Case 2

You attend to a 44-year-old woman who initially presented with left-sided facial numbness.

After taking a thorough history and examination you identify a peripheral facial weakness and an intact trigeminal nerve.

There are no relevant additional features in the history and no other abnormal findings on examination.

Which investigation would you consider to be helpful in the ED to confirm your diagnosis?

Having informed the patient that she has Bell’s palsy, she asks you whether she will recover normal function in her facial muscles. Although you are able to give her a rough estimate, you are forced to contemplate the adverse prognostic features of Bell’s palsy.

Which of the following features are associated with a poorer outcome?

The patient then asks what treatment will be required.

Which one of the following prescriptions would be an appropriate regime for this patient?