| Guillain-Barre syndrome (also known as acute | | | | acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. |
| inflammatory or post-infective | | | | People with severe GBS often need long-term |
| polyradiculoneuropathy) is a rare but serious | | | | rehabilitation to regain normal independence, and |
| disease of the peripheral nervous system. GBS | | | | as many as 15 percent experience lasting physical |
| can affect anybody. It can strike at any age and | | | | impairment. |
| both are equally prone to the disorder. It often | | | | Causes of Guillain-Barre syndrome |
| follows a minor infection, usually a respiratory | | | | The common causes and risk factor's of |
| (lung) infection or gastrointestinal (gut) infection. It | | | | Guillain-Barre syndrome include the following: |
| can become life-threatening if the respiratory | | | | The exact cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is |
| muscles are affected. GBS is believed to result | | | | unknown. |
| from an autoimmune response, both humoral and | | | | Infectious mononucleosis. |
| cell mediated, to a recent infection or any of a | | | | Administration of certain vaccinations, and other |
| long list of medical problems. The syndrome may | | | | systemic illnesses. |
| occur at any age, but is most common in people | | | | Porphyria (rare disease of red blood cells). |
| of both between the ages 30 and 50. It is | | | | Viral infections include cytomegalovirus, |
| frequently severe and usually exhibits as an | | | | Ebstein-Barr virus, and during seroconversion with |
| ascending paralysis noted by weakness in the legs | | | | the human immunodeficiency virus. |
| that spreads to the upper limbs and the face | | | | Bacterial infections include C jejuni, Haemophilus |
| along with complete loss of deep tendon reflexes. | | | | influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Borrelia |
| Adults are more commonly affected than children. | | | | burgdorferi. |
| Otherwise, recovery takes several months, but | | | | Symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome |
| most people recover almost completely. In some | | | | Some sign and symptoms related to Guillain-Barre |
| cases, GBS can be fatal. The first symptoms of | | | | syndrome are as follows: |
| this disorder include varying degrees of weakness | | | | The first symptoms of GBS are usually numbness |
| or tingling sensations in the legs. In many | | | | or tingling (paresthesia) in the toes and fingers. |
| instances, the weakness and abnormal sensations | | | | Weakness, tingling or loss of sensation that often |
| spread to the arms and upper body. It may occur | | | | begins in your feet and legs and spreads to your |
| within days or weeks after a viral infection such | | | | upper body and arms. |
| as influenza (flu) or diarrhea. It may be triggered | | | | Difficulty with eye movement, facial movement, |
| by pregnancy or a medical procedure, such as a | | | | speaking, chewing or swallowing. |
| vaccination or minor surgery, or have no evident | | | | Sensation changes. |
| reason for developing. Because the cause of GBS | | | | Numbness, decreased sensation. |
| is unknown, there's no way to prevent the | | | | Drooling. |
| disease from occurring. | | | | Difficulty breathing. |
| The most compelling case for a direct relation | | | | Difficulty moving face muscles. |
| between the Guillain-Barre Syndrome and | | | | Clumsiness and falling. |
| preceding infections derives from experience with | | | | Tingling sensations. |
| the enteric pathogen Campylobacter | | | | Treatment of Guillain-Barre syndrome |
| jejuni.Guillain-Barré occurs a few days or | | | | Here is list of the methods for treating |
| weeks after the patient has had symptoms of a | | | | Guillain-Barre syndrome: |
| respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. In | | | | Plasmapheresis (plaz-muh-fuh-RE-sis): This |
| most cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome the person | | | | treatment- also known as plasma exchange- is a |
| had a virus or bacterial infection in the last four | | | | type of "blood cleansing" in which damaging |
| weeks. The disorder can develop over the course | | | | antibodies are removed from your blood. |
| of hours or days, or it may take up to three to | | | | High-dose immunoglobulin therapy is another |
| four weeks. Usually Occasionally, surgery or | | | | procedure used to reduce the severity and length |
| vaccinations will trigger the syndrome. In its most | | | | of Guillain-Barre symptoms. |
| severe form, GBS is a medical emergency and | | | | ABCs, IV, oxygen, and assisted ventilation may |
| may require hospitalization. The inflammation | | | | be indicated. |
| usually affects the nerve's covering. Such damage | | | | In high-dose immunoglobulin therapy, doctors give |
| is called demyelination. Some CIDP patients | | | | intravenous injections of the proteins that, in small |
| experience periods of worsening and | | | | quantities, the immune system uses naturally to |
| improvement, and individual relapses are often | | | | attack invading organisms. |
| confused with GBS. Some primary care physicians | | | | Your treatment also may include pain medications |
| have described patients who complained of mild | | | | including acetaminophen and nonsteroidal |
| brief tingling and/or limb weakness accompanying | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs, possibly in combination |
| or following a viral illness, such as a sore throat or | | | | with narcotic painkillers. |
| diarrhea. Such a set of symptoms may represent | | | | Proper body positioning or a feeding tube may be |
| a very mild form of GBS. Most people recover | | | | used to prevent choking during feeding. |
| from even the most severe cases of GBS. There | | | | Blood thinners may be used to prevent blood |
| are several types of GBS, but unless otherwise | | | | clots. |
| stated, GBS refers to the most common form, | | | | |