title: Peripheral facial palsy caused by the Borrelia spirochete.
abstract: Forty-three consecutive patients with peripheral facial palsy were examined to evaluate the incidence of facial palsy caused by the tick-borne Borrelia spirochete in a non-coastal area in the south of Sweden. Six (14%) of the patients were found to have a Borrelia infection. The incidence of Borrelia-induced facial palsy was 0.39/10,000 inhabitants, which is less than in neighbouring coastal areas but still high enough to cause serious concern when dealing with facial palsies. In contrast to Bell's palsy, a Borrelia infection can cause serious generalized illness if not properly treated. Negative Borrelia serology of the serum and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and a normal CSF analysis did not exclude the Borrelia etiology. Tick bites, signs of polyneuropathy, meningeal symptoms and Borrelia-associated erythema proved to be important signs for the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Länssjukhuset Ryhov, Jönköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjerkhoel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohlsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis; D001899:Borrelia Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins