Differential Diagnosis for Temporary Inflammation of Peripheral and Cranial Nerves

Single Most Likely Diagnosis

• Guillain-Barré Syndrome: An autoimmune disorder that is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis, often triggered by a recent infection. It typically presents with ascending paralysis and can involve cranial nerves, making it a prime suspect for temporary inflammation of different peripheral and cranial nerves.

Other Likely Diagnoses

• Multiple Cranial Neuropathies: Conditions that can cause inflammation of multiple cranial nerves, which might be due to various etiologies such as infections (e.g., Lyme disease), autoimmune diseases (e.g., sarcoidosis), or diabetes.
• Neurosarcoidosis: A condition where sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease, affects the nervous system, potentially causing inflammation in various peripheral and cranial nerves.
• Vasculitic Neuropathy: Conditions like polyarteritis nodosa or granulomatosis with polyangiitis can cause inflammation of the blood vessels supplying nerves, leading to nerve inflammation.

Do Not Miss Diagnoses

• Lyme Disease: Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted by ticks. It can cause meningitis, cranial neuropathy (notably facial nerve palsy), and radiculoneuropathy, making it crucial not to miss due to its treatability with antibiotics.
• Cancer-Related Neuropathy: Certain cancers can cause neuropathy either directly (by compression or invasion) or indirectly (through paraneoplastic syndromes), which would be critical to diagnose early for appropriate management.
• Vitamin Deficiencies: Especially vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause a range of neurological symptoms including neuropathy, and is easily treatable with supplementation.

Rare Diagnoses

• ** Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)**: An autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks part of its peripheral nervous system, causing nerve inflammation and damage. It's less common than Guillain-Barré Syndrome but can present similarly.
• Multifocal Motor Neuropathy: A rare condition characterized by asymmetric muscle wasting and weakness, often mimicking motor neuron disease but typically responsive to immunotherapy.
• Neoplastic Neuropathies: Such as those caused by lymphoma or leukemia, which can infiltrate nerves directly or cause paraneoplastic syndromes, are rare but important to consider due to their implications for treatment and prognosis.