Cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome in Pune: Know what this rare brain disease is?

Why in the NEWS?

• Around 59 people in Pune have been affected with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare neurological condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves.

Key Points:

• Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves, causing weakness, numbness, or even paralysis.
• GBS is not only rare, but its exact causes are also unknown. Most people with Guillain-Barré syndrome have experienced symptoms of the infection at least six weeks before GBS symptoms appear.

What will you read next in this topic?

1. What is Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)?
2. Causes of Guillain-Barré syndrome:
3. Symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome:
4. Treatment of Guillain-Barre syndrome:

What is Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)?

• Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare and serious neurological disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own nerves. 
• The syndrome mainly affects the body's peripheral nervous system, which sends messages from different parts of the body to the brain and spinal cord. 
• As a result, it can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, numbness, and sometimes paralysis. 
• It can be an emergency, especially when the nerves are so severely affected that breathing problems occur.

Causes of Guillain-Barré syndrome:

• Guillain-Barré syndrome often occurs after a viral or bacterial infection, such as the flu, Zika virus, H1N1 (swine flu), or a gastrointestinal (digestive tract) infection. 
• When the body fights these infections, sometimes the immune system doesn't work properly and attacks the body's own nerves. 
• As a result, nerve function stops and weakness and other problems arise in the body.
• In some cases, the cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is not completely clear, but it may be associated with a history of infection or other environmental causes.

Symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome:

• The symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome usually develop a few weeks after infection. 
• The initial symptoms include weakness, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. 
• This weakness may gradually spread to other parts of the body, especially from the bottom up. Some of the major symptoms include:
• Weakness in hands and feet: 
  • The person may have problems moving his hands and feet properly.
• Numbness and tingling in the feet: 
  • The initial symptoms may include numbness and tingling in the feet or hands.
• Muscle weakness: 
  • The person may have difficulty walking and may feel pain in the muscles.
• Breathing difficulties: 
  • If the condition of the disease is more severe, the respiratory system may also be affected, causing difficulty in breathing.
• Paralysis: 
  • In some cases, this syndrome can cause paralysis in other parts of the body, such as the face or upper body, causing the person to be unable to move their muscles.
• Vision problems: 
  • In some cases, vision may become blurred or other vision problems may occur.

Treatment of Guillain-Barre syndrome:

• There is no permanent cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome, but timely treatment can control the symptoms and improve the person's condition. 
• The main aim of treatment is to prevent the over activity of the immune system and prevent further damage to the nerves. 
• The following treatment methods are commonly used:
• Plasmapheresis: 
  • In this, the plasma of the blood is removed from the body and replaced with fresh plasma. 
  • This process removes harmful antibodies present in the body, which damage the nerves.
• Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG): 
  • In this, high quality immune globulins (antibodies) are given to the patient, which helps in controlling the activity of the body's immune system and reduces the attack on the nerves.