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