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Acute facial nerve palsy in children in a Lyme disease–endemic area in the Netherlands

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Abstract

We assessed the prevalence of Lyme neuroborreliosis in children with acute facial nerve palsy in a Lyme-endemic region and patient characteristics associated with this. All children visiting one of three participating hospitals between January 2010 and December 2016 were included in the study. Of 104 children referred to the hospital with facial nerve palsy, 43% had Lyme neuroborreliosis and 57% idiopathic facial palsy. Characteristics significantly associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis were headache (55% versus 18%), meningeal irritation (21% versus 5%), presentation in summer months (69% versus 37%), and a previous tick bite (33% versus 7%).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lyme Center Apeldoorn, Gelre Hospital, Apeldoorn, Netherlands

    R. A. Bruinsma, Y. M. Vermeeren, B. van Kooten, B. van Hees & T. P. Zomer

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Gelre Hospital, Apeldoorn, Netherlands

    R. A. Bruinsma & E. A. Cats

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

    C. A. Smulders

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Gelre Hospital, Apeldoorn, Netherlands

    Y. M. Vermeeren

  5. Department of Neurology, Gelre Hospital, Apeldoorn, Netherlands

    B. van Kooten & E. A. Cats

  6. Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Gelre Hospital, Apeldoorn, Netherlands

    B. van Hees

  7. Department of Pediatrics, Amsterdam Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    M. Boele van Hensbroek

  8. Amsterdam Multidisciplinary Lyme Borreliosis Center, Amsterdam Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    J. W. Hovius

Authors
  1. R. A. Bruinsma
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  2. C. A. Smulders
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  3. Y. M. Vermeeren
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  4. B. van Kooten
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  5. E. A. Cats
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  6. B. van Hees
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  7. M. Boele van Hensbroek
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  8. J. W. Hovius
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  9. T. P. Zomer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. P. Zomer.

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As data were collected as part of usual care, the study did not fall under the scope of the Dutch Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act and no informed consent was required.

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Not applicable.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Bruinsma, R.A., Smulders, C.A., Vermeeren, Y.M. et al. Acute facial nerve palsy in children in a Lyme disease–endemic area in the Netherlands. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 40, 2455–2458 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-021-04273-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-021-04273-8

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