Your patient recently had a viral infection and now she cannot move the muscles on the right side of her face. In addition, she is experiencing a loss of taste and dry mouth and she cannot close her right eye. Which cranial nerves have been affected by the viral infection?
The symptoms stated above are results of a damaged Cranial Nerve VII (Facial Nerve). Damage to the facial (VII) nerve due to conditions such as viral infection (shingles) or a bacterial infection (Lyme disease) produces Bell’s palsy (paralysis of the facial muscles), loss of taste, decreased salivation, and loss of ability to close the eyes, even during sleep.
Reference: Tortora GJ & Derrickson B. (2014). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 14 edition