About Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS):
- It is a rare autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
