GBS which is also known as ''Landry's palsy '' is a rare lower motor neuron disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks part of its peripheral nervous system finally results in Flaccid paralysis.
This can range from a very mild case with brief weakness to nearly devastating paralysis, leaving the person unable to breathe independently.
Guillian Barre' syndrome can affect anyone. It is referred to as a syndrome because it represents a broad group of demyelinating inflammatory poly radicular-neuropathies.
It can strike at any age (although it is more frequent in adults and older people)and both sexes are equally prone to the disorder. GBS is estimated to affect about one person in 100,000 each year.
Most people eventually recover from even the most severe cases of GBS within 6 to 12 months. After recovery, some people will continue to have some degree of weakness.
Causes of Guillain Barre' syndrome
The exact cause of GBS is not known. It is not contagious or inherited. The affected person's immune system begins to attack the body itself. So GBS is called an autoimmune disease.
Symptoms of GBS
Motor function
️Muscle weakness in your legs travels to your upper body and gets worse over time.
️Weakness of both sides of the body can impair the diaphragm and cranial nerves.
️Difficulty swallowing, speaking, or chewing.
️Reduced or absent deep tendon reflexes
Sensory involvement
️Unexplained sensations (tingling in the feet or hands) .
️Have abnormal sensitivity to touch
Facial involvement
️Difficulty with eye muscles and vision.
️Cranial nerve involvement (III-VII and IX-XII) – Most common complaint is Facial Palsy.
Autonomic Function
️Cardiac dysfunction
️Urinary retention
Pain
Pricking or pins and needles sensations in the hands and feet,Pain that can be severe, particularly at night.
Triggering factors
Respiratory or Gastrointestinal viral infection leads to weakness and sensory changes.
Surgeries
Vaccinations may increase the risk of GBS.
Phases of Guillan-Barre' syndrome
Progressive phase
lasting from days to 4 weeks
Plateau phase
here few clinical changes occur.
Lasts from days to months.
Recovery phase
The patient begins to improve in this stage.
Factors that may lead to a worse outcome of GBS
Advanced age
Severe or rapidly progression illness
Delay of treatment results in more nerve damage
Prolonged use of a respirator, which can lead to pneumonia.
Treatment of Guillain Barre syndrome
There is no known cure for Guillain Barre syndrome. However, some therapies can lessen the severity of the illness and shorten recovery time.
As individuals begin to improve, they are usually transferred from the acute care hospital to a rehabilitation setting. Physiotherapists help to maintain the strength, receive physical rehabilitation and other therapy to resume activities of daily living, and prepare to return to their pre-illness life.
Complications of GBS
Difficulty in breathing when the paralysis spreads to muscles that control breathing.
Lingering weakness, numbness even after recovery.
Heart or blood pressure problems.
Slow bowel or bladder function.
References
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/fact-sheets/Guillain-barr%C3%A9-syndrome-fact-sheet
https://www.healthline.com/health/guillain-barre-syndrome
Supasan Weerasinghe
