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 seventh cranial nerve (Cranial Nerve VII), also known as the facial nerve have been affected by the viral infection. The Cranial Nerve VII as a multitasking nerve contains sensory and parasympathetic components. With that said, micro expressions or facial expressions are generated and control by the facial muscles, and the function of the Cranial Nerve VII to these actions is to provide motor innervations enabling you to do facial movements.
A possible diagnosis for the patient considering that it was caused by a viral infection would be Bell’s Palsy. In which the temporary paralysis of the right side of her face is caused by the inflammation or infection in the Cranial Nerve VII. Along with other symptoms experienced by patients with Bell’s palsy is the loss of taste and dry mouth.
References:
Bell's Palsy: Symptoms, diagnosis & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5457-bells-palsy#:~:text=Bell's%20palsy%20causes%20temporary%20paralysis,or%2C%20rarely%2C%20both%20sides.
MSc., C. L. (2022, August 25). Facial nerve (cranial nerve VII). Kenhub. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/facial-nerve