Guillain Barre Syndrome Signs & Symptoms

Conditions & Diseases: Brain & Nervous System

Guillain Barré Syndrome

Signs & Symptoms

Initial symptoms of GBS are numbness or tingling (paresthesia) in the toes and fingers, with progressive weakness in the arms and legs over the next few days. Sometimes, the paresthesia may be experienced only in the toes and legs. Symptoms may be experienced only on one side of the body. These may remain causing mild difficulty in walking with some patients needing crutches.

The illness progresses leading to complete paralysis of the arms and legs and in severe cases, the paralysis continues up to chest freezing the breathing muscles requiring the patient to depend on ventilator. Paralysis of the swallowing muscles would compel the usage of a feeding tube (4).

Symptoms of GBS develop quickly over a period of a few days after 1-3 weeks of viral infections such as cold, sore throat, hepatitis or gastrointestinal infection. The symptoms include:

Tingling and numbness in the limbs.
Muscle weakness.
Temporary paralysis of the legs, arms, face and respiratory muscles, which control breathing.
Difficulty with eye movement, speech, chewing or swallowing.
Difficulty with bladder control or digestion.
Very slow heart rate or low blood pressure (1).

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com