It has been reported that some patients have been misdiagnosed with Bell's Palsy, when in fact the correct diagnosis in their specific case was Stroke.
Symptoms such as headache, vertigo, and nausea are very common for patients to present with in the emergency department. Figuring out which of these patients are having a stroke, transient ischemic attack (temporary blocking in blood supply to the brain) or haemorrhage versus those with a simple infection is complex. Emergency doctors need to get a good medical history from the patient and complete a thorough neurological exam to rule out stroke. Misdiagnosis leads to increased time before the patient receives treatment. This can lead to increased brain tissue damage and have devastating consequences for the patient