Guillain-Barre Syndrome
The Guillain-Barre syndrome is a condition which is also known as Infectious Neuronitis and/or Infectious Polyneuronitis. Does this sound very complicated and serious? Let us see. What is this syndrome all about?
This is an acute disorder of the nervous system characterized by disturbed sensory and motor manifestations with no clear etiology.
Some school of thoughts say that this is a toxic effect of an acute infection, or a complication in the administration of some antitoxins or vaccines, or a hypersensitivity reaction; and others believe this is caused by an activation of a latent viral infection.
Clinically, this will present as an acute upper respiratory infection followed by paresthesia in the hands and feet and then weakness of both lower extremities which gradually ascends towards the abdominal and thoracic muscles.
There is hardly any presence of fever. The seventh cranial nerve is usually involved that causes facial weakness.
Sounds serious isn’t it? Yes, this could result to respiratory paralysis.
But as a whole, the recovery is rapid and generally complete and that prognosis is good. There is no specific treatment to this syndrome.