The authors describe two case-histories of paresis of the facial nerve: the first - Ramsay-Hunt’s syndrome and the second Bell’s palsy. They also present the results of serological examination of 155 patients with erythema chronicum migrans, manifestations of Lyme disease and results of serological examination of 103 patients where Lyme disease without skin manifestations was suspected. They alsomention acute paresis of the facial nerve as a complication of chronic otitis media with a marked florid infection and active secretion. The authors discuss the pathogenesis, clinical picture, possible diagnostic problems and treatment of inflammatory dysfunctions of the facial nerve - Bell’s palsy, Ramsay-Hunt’s syndrome, Lyme disease and lesions of the facial nerve associated with and complicating otitis media.

        Key words: paresis of the facial nerve, Bell’s palsy, idiopathic paresis of the facial nerve, Ramsay-Hunt’s syndrome, Lyme disease, otitis media acuta, otitis media chronica.