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Lyme disease is caused by the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by the tick Ixodes ricinus.Infection may affect the skin,nervous system,heart,and joints,and one presentation is of a facial nerve palsy that resembles Bell's palsy.There are,however,differences that are important to recognise so that a palsy caused by infection with B burgdorferi may be treated early and appropriately,which may lead to a more rapid and complete recovery.I describe nine patients who presented with facial nerve palsies between February 1986 and August 1988.Eight of these had Lyme disease and one had Bell's palsy. |
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