Does facial neuritis cause the tongue to be crooked?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on June 05, 2025
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Patients with facial neuritis should not exhibit a crooked tongue, as the tongue is governed by the hypoglossal nerve, which is not directly related to facial neuritis. If a patient does have a deviated tongue when sticking it out, it’s crucial to consult a neurologist, undergo a cranial MRI to rule out any new cerebral infarction. Patients with facial neuritis mainly exhibit symptoms of peripheral facial palsy, such as deviation of the mouth, drooping of the mouth corners, drooling, and inability to blow cheeks or whistle. They may also experience a reduction or disappearance of forehead wrinkles, and may find it difficult to open or close their eyes. Prompt intervention and treatment are necessary.

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Written by Yuan Jun Li
Neurology
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Does facial neuritis cause vomiting?

Patients with facial neuritis generally do not experience vomiting. The main symptoms in patients are paralysis of the facial expression muscles around the eyes and mouth, which may present with the disappearance or lightening of the wrinkles on the affected side of the forehead, enlarged eye slits, incomplete eyelid closure, and exposure of the white sclera when attempting to close the eyes. Additionally, flattening of the nasolabial fold may occur, as well as reduced or lost taste sensation in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. Patients may have symptoms such as a crooked mouth when whistling, air escape when puffing cheeks, and food retention on the affected side during meals, which increases the risk of oral infections and conjunctivitis. If vomiting occurs, other causes should be actively considered, such as the possibility of high blood pressure or electrolyte imbalance like hyponatremia. Dietary indiscretion could also be a cause, necessitating a comprehensive analysis.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Symptoms of facial neuritis

Facial neuritis, known as idiopathic facial paralysis, is a common disease in neurology. The main clinical manifestations and symptoms include acute onset, peaking within several hours to days. The primary manifestation is paralysis of the expression muscles on the affected side of the face, such as diminished forehead wrinkles, inability to open the eye, furrow the brow, or weak eyelid closure. Some patients may experience pain behind the ear, and in the tympanic membrane and external ear canal. Additionally, some patients exhibit deviation of the mouth corner, air leakage when puffing or whistling, and difficulty retaining food residues while eating or leaking water while drinking. Other patients may experience loss of taste in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, along with secretion disorders of the salivary and lacrimal glands. Overall, the diagnosis of facial neuritis is relatively straightforward, and its clinical presentation is not particularly complex. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, timely treatment is essential, and most patients can recover.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How is facial neuritis treated?

Facial neuritis is generally prone to occur in patients with immune dysfunction, with factors such as viral infections and some patients may be related to cold stimulation from air conditioning or fans on the face. The treatment of facial neuritis mainly includes the following aspects: First, glucocorticoid treatment should be given. Glucocorticoids play a very important role in the treatment of facial neuritis. They can reduce abnormal inflammatory responses and swelling of the facial nerve, which greatly helps the patient's recovery. Second, some B vitamins should be given to nourish the nerves. If the condition is caused by viral infection, antiviral medication should also be provided. In addition, some rehabilitation training is particularly important, and it is recommended that patients receive early physiotherapy and functional training for facial muscles.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Facial neuritis hormone treatment

If the diagnosis of facial neuritis is confirmed, and the patient does not have evident history of femoral head necrosis or diabetes, then it is advocated to treat facial neuritis with corticosteroids. Corticosteroids can suppress some of the inflammatory responses of facial neuritis, reduce edema, and facilitate the swift recovery of facial nerve function. The current guidelines recommend the use of corticosteroids for treatment. However, if the patient has conditions like elevated blood sugar, femoral head necrosis, osteoporosis, or gastric ulcers, the use of corticosteroids must be cautious to avoid adverse reactions. During the administration of corticosteroids, it is crucial to ensure the patient receives supplements of calcium and potassium to prevent electrolyte disturbances and osteoporosis. Besides corticosteroids, intake of B vitamins can also aid in promoting the repair of nerve functions.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What causes facial neuritis?

Facial neuritis is very common in neurology, mainly caused by nonspecific inflammatory responses. For example, some patients with facial neuritis may experience viral infections, leading to inflammatory reactions in the muscles. Some patients develop inflammation of the facial nerve due to exposure to cold winds. Others may have immune dysfunction or rheumatic autoimmune diseases, which lead to inflammation of the facial nerve. Patients with facial neuritis usually experience paralysis of the facial muscles and may also experience significant pain, especially in the mastoid and external auditory canal. It is essential to treat facial neuritis early, using corticosteroids and B vitamins, as many patients have a good prognosis after treatment.