What disease is facial nerve palsy most commonly associated with?

Facial nerve palsy, particularly in the context of acute conditions, is most commonly associated with Lyme disease. This connection arises because Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted through tick bites, often presents with neurological complications, one of which can be Bell's palsy.

Bell's palsy is characterized by sudden onset facial weakness or paralysis and can arise when the viral or bacterial infection affects the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) as it travels through the skull. In Lyme disease, facial nerve involvement can occur as part of the spectrum of Lyme neurological manifestations, making it a notable association.

In contrast to Lyme disease, while other conditions like multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome can lead to facial weakness, they are not as prominently or uniquely tied to acute facial nerve palsy as Lyme disease is. Multiple sclerosis is known for a variety of neurological symptoms and can result in facial nerve issues but is typically chronic and characterized by multiple types of demyelination. Myasthenia gravis is primarily characterized by muscle weakness that fluctuates with activity and does not typically manifest as isolated facial nerve palsy. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a post-infect