Do I Have Guillain-Barre Syndrome?

Have you recently had an infectious illness?

Have you recently spent time in a forested area or traveled abroad?

Have you recently had any medical procedures, including vaccinations?

Do you have prickling, pins and needles sensations in your fingers, toes, ankles or wrists?

Do you have weakness in your legs that spreads to your upper body?

Do you have unsteady gait or inability to walk or climb stairs?

Do you have difficulty with facial movements, including speaking, chewing or swallowing?

Do you have double vision or inability to move your eyes?

Do you have severe pain that may feel achy, shooting or cramp-like and may be worse at night?

Do you have difficulty with bladder control or bowel function?

Do you have rapid heart rate or difficulty breathing?

Do you have low or high blood pressure?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have Guillain-Barre syndrome. Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a neurological disorder characterized by improper functioning of the immune system that mistakenly attacks nerves and damages them, leading to muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Usually people with Guillain-Barre syndrome have the most severe muscle weakness two weeks after the onset of the disease. The symptoms of GBS can last from a few weeks to several years. Most people eventually recover completely, while some will have permanent nerve damage and some degree of weakness. GBS can occur at any age and affects about 1 person in 100,000 each year.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have Guillain-Barre syndrome. Guillain-Barre (GBS) syndrome is a rare, progressive disease characterized by inflammation of the nerves that leads to varying degrees of muscle weakness. The exact cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is still unknown. About half of the patients with this disease reported a gastrointestinal or respiratory infection a few weeks before the onset of GBS symptoms. It is believed that the infection causes a faulty immune response that damages the nerves, causing weakness and loss of sensation. A diagnosis is based on a thorough physical examination, spinal tap, electromyography and nerve conduction studies.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have Guillain-Barre syndrome. Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare medical condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves and damages them. In people with GBS, the immune system damages the nerves that control muscle movement, as well as those that transmit the sensation of pain, temperature and touch, which can lead to muscle weakness and loss of sensation in your arms and legs. There is no cure for this condition, but there are treatments available that can reduce the severity of GBS and shorten recovery time. Treatment includes plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) and immunoglobulin therapy.