Guillain-Barré syndrome is a autoimmune neurological disease in which the nervous system is attacked by the body's own immune system. This attack causes an injury to the structure that covers the peripheral nerves and ensures the speed of the nerve impulses, leading to muscle weakness progressive and paralysis. If it affects the respiratory muscles, Guillain-Barré syndrome can be fatal.
The main causes of Guillain-Barré Syndrome are related to viral and bacterial infections, surgeries, vaccines, traumas, gestation, Hodgkins lymphoma, pneumonia and gastroenteritis.
Among the viruses and bacteria that can cause the Syndrome are the Zika virus, Campylobacter (bacteria found in meat from poorly cooked poultry), HIV, influenza virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, in addition to hepatitis A, B and C viruses.
The signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome usually begin to manifest between one and four weeks after an acute illness. In most cases, the initial symptom is tingling sensation on your feet and then on your hands.
At least half of the patients also have pain of neurological origin in the lumbar spine or in the legs.
However, the most evident symptom of Guillain-Barré Syndrome is the progressive muscle weakness, which begins in the lower limbs and then reaches upper limbs, trunk, head and neck.
The intensity of muscle weakness may be mild or progress to the paralysis of the upper and lower limbs (tetraplegia). In these cases, the respiratory muscles are also affected and the patient needs mechanical ventilation to be able to breathe.
Some signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barré Syndrome indicate that the disease may worsen rapidly and the person must receive medical attention urgently. These include: difficulty breathing or swallowing, loss of movement, fainting, drooling, dizziness on standing up.
The disease progression time varies between 2 and 4 weeks. After this period, the symptoms stabilize for days or weeks and the patient gradually regains motor function during the following months.
The recovery of Guillain-Barré syndrome is slow. About 85% of patients still have a residual deficit after 2 years that acquired the disease. In up to 10% of cases there will be disabling motor or sensory sequelae.
THE mortality rate of the disease varies 5 and 7%. Deaths are usually due to respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Children generally have a faster motor recovery and require less respiratory support, so the prognosis is more favorable.
The neurologist is the specialist responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
Learn more at:
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Can Zika cause Guillain-Barré syndrome?
