Acute Febrile Illness Accompanied by 7th and 12th Cranial Nerve Palsy Due to Lyme Disease Following Travel to Rural Ecuador: A Case Report and Mini-Review

Publication type: 
Journal Article
Publication date: 
2025-01
Journal/Series title: 
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
Volume: 
10
Issue: 
21
Abstract: 

In this report, we describe a resident of southern Ontario, Canada who developed rash, fever, and cranial nerve VII and XII palsies following a 12 day trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos islands approximately four weeks prior to referral to our center. Comprehensive microbiological work-up was notable for reactive Borrelia burgdorferi serology by modified two-tier testing (MTTT), confirming a diagnosis of Lyme disease. This case highlights important teaching points, including the classic clinical presentation of acute Lyme disease with compatible exposure pre-travel in a Lyme-endemic region of Ontario, initial manifestations during travel following acquisition of arthropod bites in Ecuador, and more severe manifestations post-travel.