BELL'S PALSY AND PREGNANCY

Bell's palsy seems to occur during pregnancy and the puerperium more frequently than expected by chance. In particular there seems to be a distinct group of young primigravidae in whom Bell's palsy appears during the week preceding delivery, and who have a normal glucose tolerance test. These women have a good prognosis, with regression of symptoms during the fortnight following childbirth. It is suggested that in these cases Bell's palsy may result from ischaemia of the nerve, due to fluid retention and extracellular oedema. Diabetic angiopathy does not seem to be important in the aetiology of Bell's palsy appearing shortly before or after delivery, but may play a part in other cases of Bell's palsy during pregnancy.