Neuropediatrics
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Children with acute peripheral facial palsy have often suffered tick bites and/or erythema migrans in the head/neck region on the same side. With respect to the pathogenesis of neuroborreliosis this topographical association was investigated in an animal model. ⋯ An infection with Borrelia garinii in the subauricular region induces an ipsilateral neuritis of peripheral nerves. The particular vulnerability of the human facial nerve may be a result of its long intraosseus course. Thus, an inflammatory edema may injure the nerve in the canalis facialis.