[Meningoradiculitis after a tick bite. Study of 31 cases]

A retrospective study covering a period of 20 years identified reports on 31 cases of meningoradiculitis of the Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth type (MRGBB). Clinical, biological, electromyographic characteristics and course of the disease were studied. The most recent cases (n = 8) in 1984 and 1985 had serological tests for Borrelia Burgdorferi and half of the cases had negative results. Conversely, in some patients with meningoradiculitis, even in the absence of a tick bite or of migrating chronic erythema, serology was positive for Borrelia Burgdorferi antigen. The efficacy of antibiotic therapy against pain and on the quality and time of functional recovery justifies the use of this therapy under these two circumstances.