Guillian Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a very rate but critical health condition, in which our own body immunity system starts attacking our healthy cells and nerves. The exact cause of GBS is not found, but it can lead muscles weakness, paralysis and in critical case life threatening complications. This article will help you to know the cause symptoms and treatment of Guillain Barre Syndrome, as this is a very critical disease and early detection helps in on time and effective treatment. NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke has explained the full aspects of this disease, lets explore a summary of it.
What is Guillian Barre Syndrome?
Guillain Barre syndrome is an autoimmune disease which affects our body nervous system which are connected with our brain for transmitting signals through spinal cord to rest of the body. GBS attacks the body immunity system and damages nerves and healthy body cells which causes muscle weakness, numbness, decreased body balance and paralysis etc.
Causes of Guillain Barre Syndrome:
The exact cause of GBS is still unknown but it triggered by infection and illness which includes
1. Viral Infections:
Influenza virus: The acute flu can trigger an immunity system uncontrolled response which leads to GBS.
Cytomegalovirus (CMS): It is a common viral infection which may risks to GBS
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV): Known for causing mononucleosis, EBV has also been linked to GBS in some Individuals.
Zika Virus: Zika virus is a mosquito born disease; this can also create viral infection that can cause GBS.
2. Bacterial Infections
Campylobacter Jejuni: This is one of the most common bacterial infection linked to GBS, it often leads due to food poisoning
Mycoplasma pneumonia: A bacterial which can cause respiratory infections and even associated with GBS.
3. Vaccinations:
In very rare conditions, GBS has been reported following few vaccinations, including flu vaccine. It is also important to know the risk of developing GBS after vaccination is very less, as mostly the basic hygiene and sanitization rules are followed during vaccination, which reduces the chance of GBS Like infection after vaccination.
4. Other triggers of GBS:
Surgery in few cases major surgery or trauma may cause the development off GBS such as some types of cancers such as lymphoma is linked to GBS Risk.
As this infection and events are linked with the GBS Infection, many individuals with disease, no specific signals are found.
Symptoms of Guillain Barre Syndrome:
Symptoms of GSB including body weakness, loosing body balance, muscle weakness and paralysis. However, there are scientific studies also shows the symptoms including respiratory failure and critical health condition.
Common symptoms of GBS Including
- Muscle weakness: It usually starts with leg weakness issue and progress upward, GBS can cause weakness in legs, arms, chest, face.
- Tingling or Numbness: Patient may experience needle like sensation in their feet, hands and it spreads eventually.
- Loss of Reflexes: Reflexes such as knee jerk reflex can be reducing in people with GBS
- Difficulty in Breathing: Critical cases muscle weakness effects on our body respiratory muscles and create difficulty in breathing.
- Pain: Some individuals may experience cramping pain in lower back and legs.
- Autonomic Dysfunction: Abnormal heart rate, blood pressure fluctuation and diabetes issue can make the condition more critical.
Facial weakness: difficulty in swelling or speaking may develop the facial muscle tissue.
It is important to note that Guillain-Barre syndrome typically progress faster, with symptoms shows more criticalness in few days to few weeks. Early medical help is very important to reduce the further complication risk.
Treatment for Guillain-Barre Syndrome:
Presently there is no cure available for GBS, but there are few treatments options which can help to manage its symptoms, speedy recovery, improves the immunity and prevent the complications. Treatment of GBS is administered at Hospital as it needs monitoring and medication of expert doctors only. during the in-hospital treatments, necessary relief to patient is provided with doctor supervision and on spot medication, and medicines are changed as per the patient response by expert doctors for better results.
1. Plasmapheresis (Plasma Exchange):
Plasmapheresis is a common treatment used to remove antibodies from the blood that are attacking the nervous system. This procedure involves extracting blood from the patient, separating the plasma, and replacing it with donor plasma or a plasma substitute. This can help to reduce the severity of GBS symptoms and speed up recovery.
2. Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG)
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a blood product that contains a mixture of antibodies from healthy donors. It is administered directly into the vein and can help to modify the immune system’s response, reducing the inflammation that damages the nerves. IVIG treatment is often preferred over plasmapheresis and is typically given over several days.
3. Pain Management
Pain relief is an important part of treating GBS, as many patients experience intense pain, especially in the early stages of the condition. Pain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, or anticonvulsants are prescribed by doctors to manage discomfort.
4. Physical Therapy
Once the patient’s condition stabilizes, physical therapy is important for regaining strength and better body movement. Rehabilitation programs on GBS helps individuals to rebuild their muscle strength, improves coordination and regularize body movement. Physical, occupational and speech therapy all those combined, plays an important role in early recovery of patient, especially if the respiratory or swallowing muscles are involved.
5. Supportive Care
In critical cases of GBS, patient may need a care and support including ventilator for breathing difficulties or IV fluids to prevent dehydration and maintain better blood pressure. Expert doctors support is required, for closely monitoring the body functions and identifying the complications such as blood clots and infections.
Precautionary measures to avoid the GBS, Guillain Barré Syndrome infection in case of Mass pandemic:
Safe and clean drinking water:
Drink safe, at least 20 minutes boiled and the cooled water, use RO & Bacteria treated Water purifiers to get your drinking water, avoid the unsafe water sources and watch on water quality which you use.
Safe Food Practices:
- Wash well, all the fruits and vegetables before use
- Eat fresh and home cooked food and avoid outside food in case of mass infection like situation
- Avoid eating meat and fish if possible and eat it only after cleaning and then well cooking, avid uncooked food, meat, eggs, fish etc.
- Follow self and surrounding hygiene
- Follow the separation and isolation norms at the time of pandemic and mass infection cases
- keep raw and uncooked food separately and follow the hygiene during food storage. After washing and handling raw meat and fish products, clean the utensils and your hands properly
Regular Hand wash:
- Do regular hand wash using the soap after using washrooms and after coming from outside public places.
- Follow regular hand wash before eating and handling food
- Do regular hand wash after touching any dusty surface and after animal handling
Get immediate medical help if found following below symptoms in case of mass infection like situations:
- Immediate looseness in hand and legs and weakness in muscles.
- weakness in hands and legs.
- Pain, stiffens, tingling and numbness in hands and legs
- Leg or hand muscles slow response and body imbalance
- difficulty in breathing, speaking or eating.
Diagnosis and Recovery of GBS:
Recovery from GBS are vary from person to person, many people can see the improvement within few weeks to months, and some may experience weakness for a longer period. Full recovery may take from several months to few years. In some cases, individual may have permeant muscle damage, but mostly it recovers by the time with correct treatment.
Last but not least, GBS Syndrome is rare and critical health condition, it required expert medical attention and support by family. Knowing the cause, symptoms and treatment, GBS Patient can be able to manage this critical condition with positive improvement. Cause of GBS is not yet identified, and this infection may trigger other infections also. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment is important. Plasma therapy aka IVIG can also help in betterment of health condition in GBS. As, GBS is one of the most critical disease, therefore its symptoms such as muscle weakness, tingling, difficulty in breathing, lost body balance etc. should be identified early, and immediate attention will be provided to safeguard the patient from further Sevier GBS infections.
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