Guillain-Barré syndrome

Guillain-Barré syndrome or GBS or acute inflammatory polyneuropathy or acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy or infectious polyneuritis is a rare neurological autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system.

Signs and symptoms

Initially:

• unexplained sensations such as tingling in the feet or hands, or pain

Followed by:

• muscle weakness on both sides of the body which can increase in severity over a period of hours to weeks until the person is virtually paralyzed

Treatment and prognosis

If breathing muscles are affected, the person is often put on a ventilator.

Most people make a good recovery from even the most severe cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, although some people continue to have some degree of muscle weakness.

See also

• Vaccine

Learn more

• Guillain-Barré syndrome - WebMD
• Guillain-Barré syndrome - Johns Hopkins Medicine
• Guillain-Barré syndrome - CDC
• Guillain-Barré syndrome information - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Guillain-Barré syndrome - Mayo clinic
• Guillain-Barré syndrome Information Sheet - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Guillain-Barré syndrome - Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a U.S. government agency dedicated to epidemiology and public health. It operates under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services.