• A woman is suspected to have died of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in Maharashtra on January 29, while 16 new cases of the rare nerve disorder were reported in the state.

• The total number of suspected cases has risen to 127 with 72 confirmed cases. 

• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has deputed a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Pune for supporting the state health authorities in instituting public health interventions and management in view of the spurt in suspected GBS cases.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

• In Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system.

• The syndrome can affect the nerves that control muscle movement as well as those that transmit pain, temperature and touch sensations. This can result in muscle weakness, loss of sensation in the legs and/or arms, and problems swallowing or breathing.

• It is a rare condition, and while it is more common in adults and in males, people of all ages can be affected.

Symptoms

• Symptoms typically last a few weeks, with most individuals recovering without long-term, severe neurological complications.

• The first symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome include weakness or tingling sensations. They usually start in the legs and can spread to the arms and face.

• For some people, these symptoms can lead to paralysis of the legs, arms, or muscles in the face.

• In approximately one third of people, the chest muscles are affected, making it hard to breathe.

• The ability to speak and swallow may become affected in severe cases of GBS. These cases are considered life-threatening, and affected individuals should be treated in intensive-care units.

• Most people recover fully from even the most severe cases of GBS, although some continue to experience weakness.

• Even in the best of settings, a small number of Guillain-Barre syndrome patients die from complications, which can include paralysis of the muscles that control breathing, blood infection, lung clots, or cardiac arrest.

Causes

• The cause of it is not fully understood, but most cases follow an infection with a virus or bacteria. This leads the immune system to attack the body itself. Infection with the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni, which causes gastroenteritis (including symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea), is one of the most common risk factors for GBS.

• People can also develop GBS after having the flu or other viral infections including cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and the Zika virus.

• In rare instances, vaccinations may increase the risk of people getting GBS, but the chance of this occurring is extremely low.

• Occasionally, surgery can trigger GBS.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)