Bilateral facial palsy in a case of leptospirosis.
When returning from a 5-month trip to China, a 21-y-old Dutch male developed clinical signs, symptoms, and an antibody response compatible with leptospirosis. On d 15 of disease, he also developed facial palsy with a bilateral Bell's phenomenon. Facial palsy is a rare finding in leptospirosis, and if a causal relation exists, the delay of onset in the present case would suggest vasculitis rather than a direct neurotoxic effect.
Department of Internal Medicine, Forum Health/Northside Medical Center, Youngstown, OH 44406, USA. Fabienmaldonado@aol.com
Fabien
F
Maldonado
Henri
H
Portier
Jean-Paul
JP
Kisterman
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002681:China; D003718:Denmark; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007919:Leptospira / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014195:Travel; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013256:Steroids