Guillain Barre Syndrome Services

In Guillain-Barré syndrome, the immune system attacks the body’s nerves. Symptoms include muscle weakness, pain, tingling and loss of reflexes. Many people need a hospital stay to watch for breathing problems, heart issues, choking and other complications. Recovery can take weeks to years, but most people do recover.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder. Normally, your immune system only fights foreign invaders such as viruses or bacteria. The word “auto” means “self,” so autoimmune refers to a disorder in which your immune system attacks your own body.

In GBS, the immune system specifically attacks the nerves. You can think of a nerve as being similar to a wire that allows you to control your muscles and also feel what is happening in your environment. When this wire is damaged, your body loses the ability to control the muscles and sense the environment, leading to symptoms such as muscle weakness and numbness or tingling.

GBS is usually triggered by a viral or bacterial infection. Rarely, viral or bacterial components (proteins) can appear to look similar to your body’s proteins. When this happens, your immune system becomes confused and starts to attack your body. When the nerves are attacked by your immune system, this can result in GBS.

symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome

• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
• Back pain.
• Muscle weakness (usually starts in the feet and moves upward).
• Breathing difficulty.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Heart rate or blood pressure problems