The initial symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) are usually numbness and tingling in the fingers and toes with increasing weakness in the arms and legs over the following days.
In the mild cases of GBS, the progression of weakness ceases at this point causing moderate difficulty in walking, requiring the use of a walking aid. In other cases the weakness continues to progress and causes a complete paralysis of the legs and the arms can also be affected.
In approximately 25% of cases the weakness progresses to the chest and the patient is unable to breathe independently and requires ventilation in an intensive care unit. The nerves supplying the throat and face muscles may also be affected making swallowing impossible.
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