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?
Based on the description provided, the patient seems to manifest the viral infection called Bell’s Palsy. It is a facial neuropathy which results from the dysfunction and inflammation of the facial (VII) nerve. The said nerve controls the facial muscles frontalis, orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris, buccinator, and platysma muscles which are all needed for facial expression and movements on the face.