Guillain Barre Syndrome

Guillain Barre Syndrome is a rare and severe disease. It occurs after an acute infectious procedure. Guillain Barre Syndrome initially affects the peripheral nervous system. Normally it is acute form of paralysis in lower body area that moves towards upper limb and face. Gradually patient loses all his reflexes and goes through a complete body paralysis. Guillain Barre Syndrome is a life threatening disorder and needs timely treatment and supportive care with intravenous immunoglobulins or plasmapheresis. Unfortunately many people lose their lives without proper and prompt medical treatment. Dysautonomia and Pulmonary complications are the basic reason for death other fatal complications.

Symptoms and Signs!

guillainbarresyndrome Guillain Barre SyndromeAlthough Guillain Barre Syndrome is a fatal and complicated disorder of peripheral nervous system, however there are many symptoms and signs that enable you to suspect the disease at beginning. Guillain Barre Syndrome is a result of antigens that weakened the immune system. These infectious antigens attack the nervous system and damage the nerves. This auto-immune infection turns the peripheral nerves in inflammation of conduction block and myelin. The primary result would be minor muscle paralysis. Though autonomic disturbances or sensory occurs on acute complications. The most severe and obvious complication of Serum sickness is Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS). Guillain Barre Syndrome is type of auto-immune disorder by low hypersensitivity reaction. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, migraines, low grade fevers and chills are quite apparent symptoms of GBS. The regular headaches and migraines are result of Central Nervous System Disorder. Constant exhaustion, tiredness and pain in the back of head are early signs of Guillain Barre Syndrome. The disease initially appears in lower limb and affects the muscle reflexes. Paralysis in lower limb and legs are commonly called rubbery legs or tingling and numbness in legs. Afterwards this syndrome travels in upper part of the limb. Generally in short span of time facial muscles and arms get affected and become completely paralyzed. Normally the lower cranial nerves get damaged and lead to bulbar weakness. It affects the swallowing and breathing resulting in constant drooling. In acute cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome patients complains of temporary Bladder dysfunction. The obvious indication of GBS is pain; it is quite similar to the aching that you get after over exercise or jogging.

Diagnosis!

Constant severe pain in muscles and mild fever are common symptoms of Guillain Barre Syndrome. Usually there are many other signs like orthostatic hypotension, hypertension and unusual fluctuations in blood pressure. Prompt medical procedure ensures fast recovery and fewer complications. However If you start the treatment at late or at complicated stage then chances of recovery are very low. Success of any Guillain Barre Syndrome Diagnosis depend upon the medical reports and findings like fast growing muscle paralysis, absence of fever, a possible pro-active incident and areflexia. Normally CSF and ECD are most common treatments used to confirm and cure the disease. Sometime these treatments failed to detect early symptoms of Guillain Barre Syndrome. Generally after a week or two patients recognize the signs and then report the syndrome. At the moment there is no effective cure for Guillain Barre Syndrome. Though there are many possible medical procedures to diagnose, that may help in reducing the fatal aspect of this severe disease.

CSF

CSF is commonly used and quite successful for the findings and evidences of Guillain Barre Syndrome. Average CSF findings contain information and details of albumino-cytological dissociation. Compared to infectious symptoms, CSF is a high level protein 100 – 1000 mg/dL instead of the supplementary pleocytosis. Continuous usage of the pleocytosis may boost the immune system to resist the infections. Research has proven that high quantity of protein and pleocytosis in the CSF is essential for the diffusion of white blood cells in the myelin. In early stages of Guillain Barre Syndrome anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers combined to offer instant relief in severe pain. Often doctors suggest blood thinners to control and prevent blood clotting.

Further reading:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/gbs/gbs.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillain-Barré_syndrome
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/guillain-barre-syndrome/DS00413