What is the Guillain-Barré Syndrome?

Source: The post is based on the article “What is the Guillain-Barré Syndrome?” published in Indian Express on 14th July 2023

What is the News?

The Peruvian Government has declared a state of national emergency for up to three months due to a spike in the number of cases of a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barré Syndrome. 

What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome?

Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder where the body’s immune system — which normally protects it from infections and other foreign bodies — mistakenly attacks its own peripheral nerve cells.

In most cases of GBS, the immune system damages the myelin sheath. (Myelin sheath is an insulating layer of fat and protein that surrounds the nerve cells. It enables signals to pass through the nerve tracts at breakneck speed under normal conditions).

What causes Guillain-Barré Syndrome?

The exact reasons for Guillain-Barré Syndrome are not yet understood. However, it often develops shortly after a person gets an infectious disease. 

Rarely, vaccinations can cause it. Guillain-Barré Syndrome was also linked to the cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus, Zika virus and even the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are the types of Guillain-Barre syndrome? GBS has three forms:

Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy(AIDP) is the most common form found in North America and Europe. The most common sign of this form is muscle weakness that starts in the lower body and spreads to the upper body.

Miller Fisher syndrome(MFS): In this, the paralysis starts with the eyes. This syndrome is less common in the US, and more common in Asia.

Acute motor axonal neuropathy is more common in China, Japan, and Mexico.

Is Guillain-Barré Syndrome curable?

Currently, there is no certain cure for Guillain-Barré Syndrome. The paralysis not only affects the legs and arms, but also important parts of the nervous system that regulate breathing, blood pressure and heartbeat.