Library
Neurology
·
easy
Unilateral Facial Weakness
Flowchart
Play
Bell palsy vs red-flag mimics.
Decision
Outcome
Decision
Unilateral facial weakness. First step?
✓
Screen for red flags
✗
Start prednisone empirically
Decision
Red flags present?
✓
None present → Bell palsy management
✓
Focal neurologic deficits → MRI brain to evaluate stroke
✓
Lyme exposure / endemic area → Lyme serology
✓
Hearing loss + imbalance/vertigo → MRI skull base for CPA tumor
✓
Lower limb weakness, ↓DTRs → LP for GBS
Outcome
Eye protection (lubrication, taped closed at night) + high-dose glucocorticoids ± antivirals (acyclovir/valacyclovir within 72 h)
Worsening over 3 weeks or no improvement at 4 months → imaging.
Outcome
Stroke workup — MRI, then per stroke protocol
Outcome
Lyme serology; if positive, doxycycline 100 mg BID × 14–21 d (or amoxicillin if pregnant/peds)
Outcome
MRI internal auditory canal — vestibular schwannoma or other CPA tumor
Outcome
LP shows albuminocytologic dissociation; IVIG or plasmapheresis
Drag to pan · scroll to navigate