Saturday, May 26, 2012

Guillain-Barre syndrome

Table of Contents

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Foundation International - www.gbs-cidp.org


Expectations (prognosis)

Recovery can take weeks, months, or years. Most people survive and recover completely. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, about 30% of patients still have some weakness after 3 years. Mild weakness may persist for some people.

A patient's outcome is most likely to be very good when the symptoms go away within 3 weeks after they first started.


Complications
  • Breathing difficulty (respiratory failure)
  • Contractures of joints or other deformity
  • Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots that form when someone is inactive or confined to bed)
  • Increased risk of infections
  • Low or unstable blood pressure
  • Paralysis that is permanent
  • Pneumonia
  • Skin damage (ulcers)
  • Sucking food or fluids into the lungs (aspiration)

Calling your health care provider

Seek immediate medical help if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Can't take a deep breath
  • Decreased feeling (sensation)
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Difficulty swallowing
    • Fainting
    • Loss of movement

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Review Date: 06/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)