Guillain Barre: Neurological Syndrome

Guillain-Barre (ghee-yan bah-ray) is a neurologic syndrome where the immune system is compromised and attacked. Guillain-Barre is also called GBS for short, and that is how I will refer to it, at times, below.

GBS is still classified as a syndrome and not a disease as there is no identifying cause to classify this as such.. With this syndrome the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system.

The first symptoms of this, include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase in intensity until certain muscles cannot be used at all. When severe, the patient is almost totally paralyzed. In these cases the disorder is life threatening, potentially interfering with breathing, blood pressure and heart rate.. Patients with GBS can end up being intubated on mechanical ventilation, whereby a machine breathes for the afflicted. GBS usually ascends bilaterally. As it progress up your body, it also paralyzes inside, including lungs, bladder, liver, etc.

A slow onset can mean a better outlook. A slow onset would be if the symptoms have slowly progressed over a week or two. A fast onset of 2-3 days is considered more serious. In either case, close supervision is warranted. Usually patients are put in a Neurologic intensive care unit.

Most patients, however, recover from even the most severe cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, although some continue to have a certain degree of weakness, numbness and tingling. Recovery is based on five years. What functions of your body are not recover by the five year mark, won't be recovered.

Guillain-Barre syndrome can affect anybody. It can strike at any age but usually from teenagers up to and including senior citizens. There is no discrimination of sexes, both males and females alike can contract GBS. The syndrome is rare, however, afflicting only about one person in 100,000. People who have had GBS are not supposed to be at any higher risk than a person who has not had the syndrome. However, it does happen.