2021 Volume 114 Issue 3 Pages 231-234
Lyme disease, a tick-borne disease, is a systemic infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. In Japan, this disease has mainly been reported in Hokkaido prefecture. Although eczema is the most common symptom, some patients suffer from neurological complications. Herein, we report the case of a patient with Lyme disease who developed peripheral facial nerve palsy. The patient, a 72-year-old woman, was bitten by a tick in the right auricle. Two weeks later, she developed erythema and swelling of the right auricle, which were treated with ampicillin. A month later, she developed peripheral facial nerve palsy without other cranial nerve involvements, and was referred to our department. Based on the positive test result for serum anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibody, the patient was diagnosed as having Lyme disease. She was treated with ceftriaxone and prednisolone, and the facial nerve palsy improved. Among Lyme disease-related neurological symptoms, facial nerve palsy is among the most frequent. It is necessary to be aware of the possible occurrence of facial nerve palsy as a manifestation of neuroborreliosis.
