Lymphocytic meningoradiculitis, also known as Bannwarth syndrome, is a neurological disease characterized as intense nerve pain radiating from the spine. The disease is caused by an infection of ''
Borrelia burgdorferi'', a tick-borne
spirochete bacterium also responsible for causing
Lyme disease.
Signs and symptoms
Lymphocytic meningoradiculitis is characterized by an intense spinal pain in the lumbar and cervical regions, radiating to the extremities. Symptoms may include facial paralysis,
abducens palsy,
anorexia, tiredness, headache,
double vision,
paraesthesia, and
erythema migrans.
Treatment
Lymphocytic meningoradiculitis is treated with antibiotics. Oral
doxycycline
Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum tetracycline class antibiotic used in the treatment of infections caused by bacteria and certain parasites. It is used to treat bacterial pneumonia, acne, chlamydia infections, Lyme disease, cholera, typhus, an ...
or IV
ceftriaxone
Ceftriaxone, sold under the brand name Rocephin, is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. These include middle ear infections, endocarditis, meningitis, pneumonia, bone and joint ...
are typically recommended for 14-21 days.
History
The disease was first reported in 1941 by German neurologist,
Alfred Bannwarth
Alfred Bannwarth (1903–1969) was a German neurologist who is credited for first reporting lymphocytic meningoradiculitis.
Biography
Early life and education
After first studying music, Bannwarth studied medicine in Munich, Germany, and l ...
, who described the main symptoms as intense radicular pain, facial palsy, severe headaches, and vomiting.
A common feature he observed in his infected patients was an
abnormal increase of lymphocytes in their
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
See also
*
Tick-borne disease
References
External links
{{Medical resources
, DiseasesDB = 33278
Lyme disease