What is Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS)?
Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS) is a disease of the nerves. This disease can be quite mild, but also very serious. At worst, somebody gets temporarily paralyzed.
GBS usually begins with tingling in the toes and fingers. Then relax the muscles. Very occasionally even paralyze the muscles. This occurs within a month. Sometimes weaken the respiratory muscles, then respiration necessary.
The paralysis usually lasts one to four weeks. Then the muscles are slowly stronger.
When GBS is the immune system to its own nerves. Most people who get GBS, have first had an infection. For example, sore throat or intestinal complaints with diarrhea. The immune system responds too strongly to this infection and attacks the own body. Why this happens to some people, is not known. In the Netherlands, every year 150 to 300 people Guillain Barre syndrome.
With GBS, you should always go to the hospital. Very serious GBS covers the doctor with immunoglobulins, drugs that stop inflammation. Sometimes the doctor also corticosteroids. Then you probably need a few months to a rehabilitation center to teach your muscles to use.
GBS can all move on. But some people like symptoms such as fatigue and weak muscles.
Getting GBS is a shocking experience. It is normal if you have psychological problems with fondness, such fears. If this occurs, help your family doctor, she may possibly refer.
What are the symptoms of Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS)?
Guillain Barre syndrome usually begins with tingling in the toes and fingers. Shortly after that weaken the muscles. The weakness usually starts in the legs. It is a very scary feeling as losing control over your body. After a few days or weeks (maximum of four weeks), the weakness is the worst. How bad weaken muscles, varies per person. If symptoms once their worst, they remain approximately the same week. After that your muscles slowly stronger.
As long as you're paralyzed, you must stay in the hospital. Indeed, there is a risk of additional problems:
Paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Then invasive ventilator support at the intensive care unit.
Too high or too low blood pressure and too fast or too slow. You will receive medication.
When your muscles begin to work again, you get physiotherapy. You should be careful with other exercise, such as jogging or exercising. You get fast muscle pain.
It may take years before you are back healthy. People who have had GBS, often very tired and have muscle pain. After six months 80% of patients can walk again without assistance.
About half of the patients will always find that they have had Guillain Barre syndrome. For example, they have weak muscles or much feeling in their hands or feet. About one in ten patients keeps so many complaints that they can not do their work, school or hobbies.
The chance of getting GBS more than one time is extremely small.
What causes Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS)?
Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS) usually begins after an infection, such as food poisoning or a throat infection.
When an infection with a bacteria or virus makes your body produce antibodies. Some antibodies are harmful to your body: they not only attack the virus or bacteria, but also parts of your own body. When Guillain Barre antibodies attack your nerves. GBS is an autoimmune disease.
Usually give your nerves commands to move through the muscles. These orders come Guillain Barre so anymore. Thereby paralyze your muscles. Also, the sense signals from the skin and muscles are no longer in the brains. Consequently, many patients have less feeling in parts of their body.
Guillain Barre syndrome diagnosis
Guillain Barre is usually easily recognizable by a rapid paralysis, on both sides of the body.
Your doctor will ask you if you have recently had an infectious disease. This will also check your blood. They will test your reflexes. In addition, it is usually an electromyogram (EMG) is needed to measure whether the nerves are damaged. You also get a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to investigate the fluid surrounding the spinal cord. In people with Guillain Barre syndrome are a lot of protein in it.
Treatment of Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS)
For the Guillain Barre syndrome are two different treatments. The first way is the administration of immunoglobulin. This ensures that the paralysis will not get worse. However, this treatment is very expensive for the hospital. The second way is a proper reception and care, and wait until the muscles naturally get better.
You should always go to the hospital with Guillain Barre syndrome. It may be that your respiratory muscles weaken. Then you should be ventilated in intensive care.
When you are well again, you are dealing with a rehabilitation specialist. The doctor recommends that (practice) therapies you can do best. This may include occupational therapy, physical therapy or speech therapy. Maybe you can not rehabilitate at home. In that case, you can also visit a rehabilitation center or nursing home.