What is Guillain Barre syndrome?
Guillain-Barre syndrome also known as Landry-Guillain-Barre syndrome or acute idiopathic polyneuritis acute inflammatory polyneuropathy or acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
Guillain-Barre syndrome is defined as the acute inflammation of the peripheral nerves leading to weakness of the muscles and diminished reflexes. This inflammation occurs when the body’s immune cells attack the healthy neuron cells of the body and damage them. Severe cases of the inflammation in Guillian Barre Syndrome can lead to paralysis and even life-threatening conditions.
Who is at risk?
Individuals of all age groups can be affected but the people who are young adults and older adults are at higher risk of getting infected. Males are more prone to whereas Infants are at lower risk.
What are the causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
The exact cause is not known.
It is an autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the body’s immune system begins to attack the body itself.
-the most common risk factor for GBS is the Infection with the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni. Other Infections that may trigger GBS include Mycoplasma ( pneumonia), CMV ( cytomegalovirus), Varicella – zoster virus.
Other predisposing factors include:
-Immunization
-Pregnancy
-Surgery
-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
What are the symptoms of Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
-Weakness or tingling sensations in the legs that spread to the upper body
-Numbness
Unsteady gait or inability to walk
-difficulty in speaking, chewing or swallowing.
-difficulty in facial movements and movement of the eyes
-Severe lower back pain
Urinary incontinence
-Fast heart rate
-Low or high blood pressure
-Difficulty in breathing
Is Guillain Barre curable?
There is no particular cure for Guillain-Barre Syndrome, but the treatment helps in giving symptomatic relief to the patient and it also helps in reducing the duration of the disease.
Is Guillain Barre permanent?
Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a problem of the nervous system. It causes muscle weakness, reflex loss, and numbness or tingling in parts of the body. It can also lead to paralysis, which is usually temporary. Therefore, people suffering from Guillain barre syndrome recover within 8 to 15 months.
What are the investigations for Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
By physical examination – by arms and legs getting weaker, loss of reflexes.
-Lumbar puncture -which reveals a high protein content in the cerebrospinal fluid.
-Nerve conduction studies -which demonstrate a slowing of nerve conduction in the nerve roots and/or peripheral nerves.
-Electromyography -EMG detects the electrical activity in muscles
-Cerebrospinal fluid analysis
What is the treatment for Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
-Intravenous immunoglobulin
-plasma exchange (plasmapheresis)
What are the complications of Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
-Breathing difficulties.
-Cardiovascular problems. Blood pressure fluctuations and cardiac arrhythmias
-Neuropathic pain
-Bowel and bladder function problems.
-Blood clots.
Homeopathic remedies for Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
-Stannum metallicum
-Plumbum metallicum
Hypericum perforatum
-Thallium metallicum
-Arsenicum album
