Which of the following is the MOST COMMON cause of simultaneous bilateral lower motor neuron facial palsy?

• A Simultaneous bilateral Bell's palsy
• B Guillain-Barre syndrome ✓
• C Neurosarcoidosis (Heerfordt syndrome)
• D Lyme disease

Explanation

Guillain-Barre syndrome, particularly the Miller Fisher variant spectrum, is the classic and most frequent cause of bilateral facial weakness, reflecting demyelination of multiple cranial nerves. As per Indian examination convention, bilateral facial palsy should always prompt evaluation for GBS rather than being labelled bilateral Bell's palsy, which is distinctly uncommon. Heerfordt syndrome and Lyme disease are recognised but rarer causes, useful mainly as distractors in systemic workup questions.

Reference: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.