Is Guillain – Barré syndrome dangerous?

Guillain – Barré syndrome is an acute autoimmune peripheral neuropathy, occurs when the immune system attacks peripheral nerves, damaging and destroying the myelin layer surrounding the axon. Myelin plays a role in protecting, providing nutrition and increasing the speed of nerve transmission. The neurological loss of myelin layer is easy to degenerate, damage, hinder or completely lose signal transmission, leading to neurological dysfunction.

The cause of Guillain – Barré syndrome has not been clearly defined. Factors that increase the risk of disease include viral or bacterial infections, mainly respiratory infections, influenza, hepatitis B or C, intestinal infections …; after surgery; injury or marrow transplant. Some cases of unknown reasons occur. The typical symptoms are weak, acute numbness in the body symmetry, the progression increases gradually in the limbs, which can spread to the facial muscles. Severe patients may feel difficulty breathing, chest tightness, difficulty speaking, swallowing …

The Guillain – Barré syndrome is often difficult to predict, depending on the location of each person, the severity of symptoms and progress may vary. The mild disease can go away on its own or slow and prolonged, many times, leading to chronic. The frequency occurs, the severity of symptoms and the risk of complications often increases after each recurrence. This syndrome can also progress or cause serious complications such as malnutrition, paralysis of the whole body, acute respiratory failure, increase or lower blood pressure, urinary retention, arrhythmia, plant neurological disorders, death.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is classified as an emergency disease. Therefore, the family should quickly take the three friends to the neurologist for timely treatment, avoiding long -term danger. The doctor diagnosed based on the results of clinical examination, medical history, appropriate subclinical indications such as blood and urine tests, electromechanical measurement, cerebrospinal fluid test, skin biopsy or nerves, CT 768 slices, 1975 slices or 100,000 slices, MRI 1,5-3 Tesla …

Treatments may vary or combine according to the multi -mode regimen. Typically replacing plasma, immunoglobulin immunoglobulin, immunosuppressive drugs, symptomatic treatment and support, combined with functional physical therapy. The recovery level of each patient may vary, usually fluctuating for about 3-6 months or lasting 1-5 years.

To reduce the risk of disease, each person should have a periodic health examination, vaccine to prevent infectious diseases, control the background disease well. Regularly exercise and sports, avoid drinking a lot of alcohol, not smoking, limiting contact with toxic chemicals or polluted environment.

When there is an abnormal manifestation such as numbness, weaknesses or spreading and increasing, especially after the flu or respiratory, digestive infections, patients should see a neurological specialist to be diagnosed, treated promptly, avoiding the risk of severe complications, death.