Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves. The peripheral nerves convey sensory information (e.g. temperature and pain) from the body to the brain and motor (i.e. movement) signals from the brain to the body. GBS is characterised by weakness of legs and arms, and possible loss of movement and feeling in the legs, arms, upper body, and face. Guillain-Barre syndrome may be an autoimmune disorder in which the body produces antibodies that damage the myelin sheath that surrounds peripheral nerves.

Causes

Guillain-Barre syndrome is not hereditary or contagious. What causes GBS is not known; however, in about half of all cases the onset of the syndrome follows a viral or bacterial infection, such as the following

• flu, common cold
• gastrointestinal viral infection
• infectious mononucleosis
• viral hepatitis
• campylobacteriosis (usually from eating undercooked poultry)
• porphyria (rare disease of red blood cells)
• Occur after surgery.

Symptoms -Weakness on both sides of the body may develop.....

Diagnosis - Diagnosis is made by the clinical features.....

Treatment - There are therapies that lessen the severity of the illness.....