An Overview of Guillain Barre Syndrome

Guillain Barre syndrome is a rare auto-immune disease that leads to muscle weakness. This syndrome impacts the external nervous system, with the initial symptoms including discomfort and muscle weakness that starts in the hands and feet before migrating to the upper body.

The symptoms develop over a period of a few hours to a few weeks. During this phase, the syndrome can become fatal as breathing becomes difficult due to the affected muscles, thus requiring external assistance. Some patients may experience changes in the autonomic nervous system, leading to dangerous abnormalities in heart rate and blood pressure.

The symptoms of this disease usually manifest within 2 weeks. The consequences can be life-threatening.

Who is Susceptible to Guillain Barre Syndrome?

Gillian Barre syndrome can affect individuals of all ages and genders, though it is slightly more common in older people and males. The risk of developing the syndrome increases with age.

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What Causes Guillain Barre Syndrome?

The exact cause of Guillain-Barré syndrome remains a mystery to the medical community. The disorder usually appears days or weeks after a major respiratory and digestive infection. Occasionally, recent surgery or immunization can trigger Guillain-Barré syndrome. There have been cases where a recent infection by zika virus has triggered the syndrome. Therefore, it is challenging to pinpoint a singular cause of the syndrome.

What are the Initial Symptoms of Guillain Barre Syndrome?

The following are the first signs of the syndrome afflicting a person:

• A tingling or prickling sensation in your fingers and toes.
• Gradual muscle weakness in your legs that travels to your upper body and gets worse over time.
• Increasing difficulty in walking steadily.
• Moving your eyes or face, talking, chewing, or swallowing will become a strenuous task.
• Severe pain in the lower.

Is Guillain Barre Contagious?

No, Guillain-Barre syndrome is not contagious. The onset of the syndrome follows a viral or bacterial infection, such as the Flu.

Can Guillain Barre Syndrome be Fatal?

While most people recover from the syndrome, it can sometimes take a long time, and around 1 in 5 people have long-term problems. The vast majority of people recover within a year.

A small number of patients, approximately 3%–5% of Guillain-Barré syndrome, die from complications, such as paralysis of the muscles that control breathing, blood infection, lung clots, or cardiac arrest.

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