Idiopathic familial facial nerve paralysis.

A 26-year-old man was seen one day after developing a left facial palsy of unknown aetiology. He had previously had a left facial palsy at age 14 and a right facial palsy at 19, both with minimal residual paresis. Both his mother and grandmother have had facial palsies. The role of hereditary influences in idiopathic facial paralysis, as well as the treatment of this condition, is discussed.