GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME

What is it?

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a condition which affects the nervous system. It usually affects the motor nervous system which makes the muscles work, rather than the sensory nervous system which lets you feel things. It paralyses any muscles it affects, stopping them from working.

What causes it?

We are not quite sure why one person gets Guillain-Barre syndrome when another person does not. It is thought to be linked to having a viral illness such as a cold - about half the people who get the syndrome have had a virus in the month before they develop the illness.

Who gets it?

No one person or group of people is more at risk from this illness than any other.

What are the symptoms?

You may start by getting a headache, fever or vomiting or pain in your back, arms and legs. Sometimes you may first get tingling in your feet and hands, which gradually moves up your arms and legs. You may notice a weakness in your face, especially around your mouth, and you may find that your shoulders and thighs are weaker than your lower arms and legs. How fast and how far this weakness spreads is very variable. Sometimes the condition can affect your breathing, which is the most serious complication.

When should I go to my GP?

If you notice sudden weakness in any part of your body, you should go and see your doctor as soon as possible. The symptoms may come on over one or two weeks but they may develop over only a few hours.

What tests will my Doctor want to do?

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and examine you. If this condition is suspected, he or she will arrange for you to go to the hospital immediately for more tests. There, you will have blood tests and a lumbar puncture which involves putting a small needle into your back and taking a sample of fluid from around your spine. You may also have to have a kind of X-ray of your brain called a computed tomography scan, or a magnetic resonance imaging scan.

What is the treatment?

There is no medical treatment that will cure Guillain-Barre syndrome. Treatment consists of careful nursing care in hospital to prevent your skin from getting damaged or your muscles from becoming stiff. If your breathing has been affected, you may need to have a tube put down into your lungs which will be attached to a machine to help you breathe.

Will I need long-term treatment?

The hospital may ask you to go back for check- ups for a while after you get better, but you will not need any long-term treatment.

What is the outlook for recovery?

ost people with the condition make a good recovery - even if they are completely paralysed at first. It may take up to six months before you are completely better.