Levischi Carlos E
Internal Medicine, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, BRA.
Cureus. 2024 Nov 17;16(11):e73843. doi: 10.7759/cureus.73843. eCollection 2024 Nov.
Lyme disease is a prevalent infection in the northern hemisphere, affecting approximately 450,000 new cases annually in the United States and 65,000 in Europe. This illness is spread by the bite of ticks harboring spirochetes and develops in three progressive phases. In the second phase, neurological complications are common, including cranial nerve involvement. Notably, facial nerve neuropathy occurs in about 10% of adults with neurological symptoms, with an even higher incidence among pediatric cases. In this context, a 14-year-old female patient presented with acute facial paralysis that initially improved but recurred on the same side several months later. Comprehensive evaluation led to a diagnosis of Lyme disease, and following targeted treatment, she experienced a marked recovery of her symptoms.
莱姆病是北半球一种常见的传染病,在美国每年约有45万新发病例,在欧洲有6.5万例。这种疾病通过携带螺旋体的蜱虫叮咬传播,并呈三个渐进阶段发展。在第二阶段,神经并发症很常见,包括颅神经受累。值得注意的是,约10%有神经症状的成年人会出现面神经病变,在儿科病例中发病率更高。在此背景下,一名14岁女性患者出现急性面瘫,最初有所改善,但几个月后同一侧再次复发。综合评估后诊断为莱姆病,经过针对性治疗,她的症状明显恢复。