| Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system (the part of the nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord). It is the most common cause of acute generalized paralysis and there are about 0.4 to 1.7 cases per 100,000 people each year. It is not known what causes Guillain Barre Syndrome, but it is thought to be mediated by the immune system.
The main symptoms of Guillain Barre Syndrome are muscle weakness and a loss of reflexes (areflexia), which usually begin about 10 days after a viral infection, such as an upper respiratory tract infection or gastroenteritis. The weakness is symmetric (both sides of the body are affected), begins in the muscles of the legs and then slowly advances upwards toward the trunk and arms over days to weeks (ascending paralysis). Other symptoms can include difficulty walking, breathing, swallowing, pain and paresthesias (numbness and tingling).
Guillain Barre Syndrome can also affect the autonomic nervous system, which is the part of the nervous system that is responsible for bodily functions that are not consciously directed (such as blood pressure and heart rate). This can lead to problems with a low blood pressure or slow heart rate.
Testing can include a spinal tap, which will show an elevated of the protein in the cerebral spinal fluid, and electromyography (EMG).
Treatment is mostly supportive, including monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory function, and depends on the severity of symptoms. About 10 - 20% of children will have enough trouble breathing that they will need to be on a ventilator. Other treatments include plasmapheresis or plasma exchange transfusion and the use of intravenous immune globulin (IVIG).
Most children with GBS begin recovering in 2-3 weeks after the symptoms began. About 80% have complete recovery, but some have residual weakness and there is about a 3% mortality rate (risk of death). There is also a 7% chance of having a relapse of symptoms in children.
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