Viral infection in acute peripheral facial palsy. Investigation in Yamagata Prefecture.

We studied viral involvement in Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome. In the CF test, viral infection was confirmed in 2 of 84 patients. Of the 12 patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, 5 showed a significantly high titre for varicella zoster and one for rubella. The ELISA test, performed in 60 patients with Bell's palsy, revealed significantly high titres for varicella zoster in 5 patients and for herpes simplex in 4 patients. All 5 patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome showed significantly high titres for varicella zoster. The ELISA test showed a higher sensitivity than the CF test. The incidence of viral infection in the present study was lower than that in similar investigations. Possible reasons for this are epidemicity or regional differences year from year.