Guillain Barré Syndrome

Causes & Risk Factors

The exact causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) are not fully understood. It is neither contagious nor hereditary. (4)

A viral or bacterial infection causes an allergic reaction which damages the protective sheath around the peripheral nerves (demyelination) leading to cessation of signal passage to muscles, which causes tingling, weakness and eventual short-term paralysis (1).

Generally, a viral or bacterial infection precedes the onset of GBS. The infections are as follows:

• Flu and Common cold

• Gastrointestinal viral infection

• Infectious mononucleosis

• Viral hepatitis

• Campylobacteriosis (usually from eating undercooked poultry)

• Porphyria (rare disease of red blood cells)

• Bacterial infections (such as salmonella poisoning)

• Hodgkin's disease, (tumor of the lymph glands - the small, bean-sized organs that carry white blood cells)

• Immunization (such as the influenza vaccine) in very rare cases. (1, 4)

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
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