Tick-borne spirochetes as a cause of facial palsy.
Twenty consecutive patients visiting an otolaryngological department in Sweden with a facial palsy were investigated for serological signs of tick-borne spirochete infection. Four patients showed serological evidence of and had a medical history compatible with a tick-borne spirochetosis. Spinal fluid analyses were performed in 3 of these patients and showed elevated specific antispirochetal antibody titres and an increase in mononuclear cells. The importance of a correct diagnosis and of antibiotic therapy in patients with spirochete-induced facial palsy is emphasized.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001096:Arachnid Vectors; D002648:Child; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013145:Spirochaetales Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology*