Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) Latest News

A Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) outbreak has hit Madhya Pradesh’s Neemuch district recently, with two deaths reported in Manasa town.

About Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)

• It is a rare neurological disorder in which a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks part of their peripheral nervous system.
• This is the part of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord. 
• It controls muscle movement, pain signals, and temperature and touch sensations.
• Since the body’s own immune system does the damage, GBS is called an autoimmune disease.
• GBS is also called acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP).
• It can occur at any age, but it most commonly affects people between 30 and 50.

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Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) Causes

• The exact cause of the disease remains unclear, but it is often observed following a viral or bacterial infection, vaccination, or major surgery.
• At such times, the immune system becomes hyperactive, leading to this rare condition.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) Symptoms

• Patients often begin with an unknown fever, followed by weakness and other nervous system-related symptoms. 
• It can increase in intensity over a period of hours, days, or weeks until certain muscles cannot be used at all. 
• Some cases of GBS are very mild and only marked by brief weakness. Others cause nearly devastating paralysis, leaving the person unable to breathe on their own.
• It is potentially life-threatening. People with GBS should be treated and monitored as quickly as possible

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) Treatment

• There’s no known cure for GBS. 
• Several treatment options can ease symptoms and help speed recovery. 
• Most people recover completely from GBS, but some serious illnesses can be fatal. 
• While recovery may take up to several years, most people are able to walk again six months after symptoms first began.
• Some people may have lasting effects, such as weakness, numbness, or fatigue.

Source: NDTV