Guillain-Barre syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome

News: Recently, Peru has declared a 90-day national health emergency due to a spike in cases of GBS rare neurological disorder.

What is GBS?
• Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological disorder in which your immune system mistakenly attacks part of the peripheral nervous system—the network of nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord.
• GBS can range from a very mild case with brief weakness to nearly devastating paralysis, leaving you unable to breathe independently.
• The exact cause of GBS is unknown, but it often follows an infection, such as a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection, or less commonly, a surgery or a vaccination.
• The underlying mechanism involves an autoimmune reaction, where the immune system produces antibodies that attack the myelin sheath, the protective covering of the nerves. This damages the nerves
and impairs their ability to transmit signals to the muscles.
• GBS is a rare condition that affects about 1 or 2 people per 100,000 every year worldwide. It can affect anyone at any age and any gender. However, it is more common in older adults and slightly more common in men than women.