Paralysis Bulbar Infectious

Infectious bulbar palsy: symptoms, causes and treatment

Infectious bulbar palsy, also known as bulbar palsy, is a rare but serious condition that can lead to problems with swallowing, breathing, articulation and other functions controlled by nuclei in an area of ​​the brain called the bulbar center.

This disease is caused by an infection that affects the nerve cells in the bulbar center. The main causes of such damage are viruses, such as polio virus, herpes, HPV, herpes simplex virus and others. Infections caused by bacteria, such as diphtheria bacillus, can also cause bulbar palsy.

Symptoms of bulbar palsy may appear gradually or quickly and may include:

  1. Difficulty swallowing
  2. Speech disorder
  3. Weakening of the muscles of the face and larynx
  4. Difficulty breathing or holding your breath

To diagnose bulbar palsy, various tests are performed, including a neurological examination, electromyography, blood and urine tests, as well as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Treatment for bulbar palsy depends on its cause. If the cause is an infection, then antibacterial or antiviral therapy is carried out. In some cases, oxygen therapy, breathing apparatus, or even surgery may be required.

Treatment of bulbar palsy can be complex and requires an individual approach. With prompt diagnosis and treatment, most patients can make a full recovery. However, if the disease remains undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to serious complications and even death.

Thus, infectious bulbar palsy is a rare but serious disease that can cause various disorders in the functioning of the nervous system. If such symptoms occur, you should consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.



Infectious bulbar paralysis is one of the complications of bacterial and viral infections that occur in the upper respiratory tract and develop gradually. This disease affects areas of the medulla oblongata that control the most important respiratory functions of the body: the movement of the muscles of the larynx, swallowing, the ability to breathe, as well as the production of saliva and other vital processes. Infectious form of bulbar paralysis usually occurs against the background of viral or bacterial diseases such as laryngitis, pharyngitis and tracheitis. Another common cause is chronic untreated inflammation in the oropharynx, adenoids, tonsillitis and other diseases.

The paralyzing effect in bulbar palsy does not affect the upper respiratory tract; on the contrary, the innervation is most often disrupted, starting from the deep cushion of the lower jaw and ending with the premolars. Central paralysis begins in the sensory nerves on the tongue, causing numbness. This leads to damage to the parotid endocrine gland. The swallowing reflex will be lost at the onset of the neurological syndrome, but after the nerves are restored, the reaction will be completely restored. When the nerve is restored, full function returns only towards the end