Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute disease of the peripheral nervous system causing the nerves in the arms and legs to become inflamed and stop working. This causes sudden weakness, limb paralysis, loss of sensation, speech and swallowing difficulties, and sometimes pain. Patients often require treatment on an intensive care unit as the muscles required for breathing also become weak.
GBS affects approximately 1500 people each year in the UK. It can affect anyone and is not hereditary or contagious. The exact cause of GBS is unknown but many patients suffer from infections, influenza or stress prior to the onset of the symptoms of GBS.
A total recovery is made by approximately 80% of patients. Patients often spend up to three months in hospital and then recover over the following year. Approximately 15% of patients do not recover completely and have residual weakness, reduced sensation and pain. A few patients are unable to resume their normal occupation. Modern medicine makes death from GBS rare but it occurs in approximately 5% of cases, usually in the elderly.
→
→
→
→
→
