Bilateral facial palsy in a case of leptospirosis

Abstract

When returning from a 5-month trip to China, a 21-y-old Dutch male developed clinical signs, symptoms, and an antibody response compatible with leptospirosis. On d 15 of disease, he also developed facial palsy with a bilateral Bell's phenomenon. Facial palsy is a rare finding in leptospirosis, and if a causal relation exists, the delay of onset in the present case would suggest vasculitis rather than a direct neurotoxic effect.