The Threat of Guillain Barre Syndrome

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Guillain Barre Syndrome

A rare and severe disease, Guillain Barre Syndrome, often occurs after an acute infectious procedure. Guillain Barre Syndrome affects the peripheral nervous system. Normally, it is an acute form of paralysis in the lower body area that moves to the upper limbs and face. Over time, the patient will lose all his reflexes and goes through a complete body paralysis, unless maintained in a prompt manner. Guillain Barre Syndrome is a life threatening disorder and needs timely treatment and therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin’s. Unfortunately many people can lose their lives without proper and prompt medical treatment. “Dysautonomia and pulmonary complications are the basic reason for death for those contract GBS, luckily these kind of complications are rare..” Guillain-Barre syndrome is a disorder that your ownbody's immune system attacks your nerves. The first symptoms usually consist of weakness and or tingling in lower extremitites as well as the hands. These symptoms can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing your whole body. It is unknown what the exact cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is unknown, but it is more than often preceded by an infectious illness such as the stomach flu or a respiratory infection. Guillain-Barre syndrome is an uncommon disorder, affecting roughly only one or two people per 100,000. There are several treatments and therapies that can help ease symptoms and reduce the duration of the illness and although most people recover from Guillain-Barre syndrome, many people may still experience lingering effects from it, such as numbness, fatigue or weakness.

Pathophysiology

“Guillain-Barre is an immune mediated response that triggers destruction of the myelin sheath covering the pe...

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... affecting the peripheral nervous system. Ascending paralysis, weakness beginning in the feet and migrating towards the trunk, limbs and the head, is the most common symptom, and some subtypes cause change in sensation or pain, as well as dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. It can cause life-threatening complications, in particular if the respiratory muscles are affected or if the autonomic nervous system is involved. The disease is usually triggered by an infection. The diagnosis is usually made by nerve conduction studies and with studies of the cerebrospinal fluid. With prompt treatment by intravenous immunoglobulin’s or plasmapheresis, together with supportive care, the majority will recover completely. Guillain Barré syndrome is rare, at one to two cases per 100,000 people annually, but is the most common cause of acute non-trauma-related paralysis.

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