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 show damage to the facial nerve (CN VII). This is shown by her symptoms, specifically her inability to move one side of her face, low saliva production, loss of taste, and inability to close her eyes. Given her symptoms, it may be concluded that she is suffering from Bell's palsy.