Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare but serious autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks healthy nerve cells in your peripheral nervous system (PNS).

This leads to weakness, numbness, and tingling, and can eventually cause paralysis.

The cause of this condition is unknown, but it’s typically triggered by an infectious illness, such as gastroenteritis (irritation of the stomach or intestines) or a lung infection.

Guillain-Barré is rare, affecting only about 1 in 100,000 Americans, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

There’s no cure for the syndrome, but treatment can reduce the severity of your symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness.

There are multiple types of Guillain-Barré, but the most common form is acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). It results in damage to myelin.

Other types include Miller Fisher syndrome, which affects the cranial nerves.

The precise cause of Guillain-Barré is unknown. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, about two-thirds of people with Guillain-Barré develop it soon after they’ve been sick with diarrhea or a respiratory infection.

This suggests that an improper immune response to the previous illness triggers the disorder.

Campylobacter jejuni infection has been associated with Guillain-Barré. Campylobacter is one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrhea in the United States. It’s also the most common risk factor for Guillain-Barré.

Campylobacter is often found in undercooked food, especially poultry.

The following infections have also been associated with Guillain-Barré:

• influenza
• cytomegalovirus (CMV), which is a strain of the herpes virus
• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, or mononucleosis
• mycoplasma pneumonia, which is an atypical pneumonia caused by bacteria-like organisms
• HIV or AIDS

Anyone can get Guillain-Barré, but it’s more common among older adults.

In extremely rare cases, people can develop the disorder days or weeks after receiving a vaccinationTrusted Source.

The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have systems in place to monitor the safety of vaccines, detect early symptoms of side effects, and record any cases of Guillain-Barré that develop following a vaccination.

The CDC saysTrusted Source that research indicates you’re more likely to get Guillain-Barré from the flu, rather than the vaccine.

In Guillain-Barre syndrome, your immune system attacks your peripheral nervous system.

The nerves in your peripheral nervous system connect your brain to the rest of your body and transmit signals to your muscles.

The muscles won’t be able to respond to signals they receive from your brain if these nerves are damaged.

The first symptom is usually a tingling sensation in your toes, feet, and legs. The tingling spreads upward to your arms and fingers.

The symptoms can progress very rapidly. In some people, the disease can become serious in just a few hours.

The symptoms of Guillain-Barré include:

• tingling or prickling sensations in your fingers and toes
• muscle weakness in your legs that travels to your upper body and gets worse over time
• difficulty walking steadily
• difficulty moving your eyes or face, talking, chewing, or swallowing
• severe lower back pain
• loss of bladder control
• fast heart rate
• difficulty breathing
• paralysis

Guillain-Barré is difficult to diagnose at first. This is because the symptoms are very similar to those of other neurological disorders or conditions that affect the nervous system, such as botulism, meningitis, or heavy metal poisoning.

Heavy metal poisoning may be caused by substances such as lead, mercury, and arsenic.

Your doctor will ask questions about specific symptoms and your medical history. Be sure to tell your doctor about any unusual symptoms and if you’ve had any recent or past illnesses or infections.

The following tests are used to help confirm a diagnosis:

Spinal tap

A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) involves taking a small amount of fluid from your spine in your lower back. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid. Your cerebrospinal fluid is then tested to detect protein levels. Guillain-Barré Syndrome-Concept Process Assignment.

People with Guillain-Barré typically have higher-than-normal levels of protein in their cerebrospinal fluid.

Electromyography

An electromyography is a nerve function test. It reads electrical activity from the muscles to help your doctor learn if your muscle weakness is caused by nerve damage or muscle damage.

Nerve conduction tests

Nerve conduction studies may be used to test how well your nerves and muscles respond to small electrical pulses.

Guillain-Barré is an autoimmune inflammatory process that’s self-limiting, meaning it will resolve on its own. However, anyone with this condition should be admitted to a hospital for close observation. The symptoms can quickly worsen and can be fatal if untreated.

In severe cases, people with Guillain-Barré can develop full-body paralysis. Guillain-Barré can be life-threatening if paralysis affects the diaphragm or chest muscles, preventing proper breathing.

The goal of treatment is to lessen the severity of the immune attack and support your body functions, such as lung function, while your nervous system recovers.

Treatments may include:

Plasmapheresis (plasma exchange)

The immune system produces proteins called antibodies that normally attack harmful foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses. Guillain-Barré occurs when your immune system mistakenly makes antibodies that attack the healthy nerves of your nervous system.

Plasmapheresis is intended to remove the antibodies attacking the nerves from your blood.

During this procedure, blood is removed from your body by a machine. This machine removes the antibodies from your blood and then returns the blood to your body. Guillain-Barré Syndrome-Concept Process Assignment.

Intravenous immunoglobulin

High doses of immunoglobulin can also help block the antibodies causing Guillain-Barré. Immunoglobulin contains normal, healthy antibodies from donors.

Plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin are equally effective. It’s up to you and your doctor to decide which treatment is best.

Other treatments

You may be given medication to relieve pain and prevent blood clots while you’re immobile.

You’ll likely receive physical and occupational therapy. During the acute phase of the illness, caregivers will manually move your arms and legs to keep them flexible.

Once you begin to recover, therapists will work with you on muscle strengthening and a range of activities of daily living (ADLs). This can include personal care activities, like getting dressed.

Guillain-Barré affects your nerves. The weakness and paralysis that occurs can affect multiple parts of your body.

Complications may include difficulty breathing when the paralysis or weakness spreads to muscles that control breathing. You may need a machine called a respirator to help you breathe if this occurs.

Complications can also include:

• lingering weakness, numbness, or other odd sensations even after recovery
• heart or blood pressure problems
• pain
• slow bowel or bladder function
• blood clots and bedsores due to paralysis

The recovery period for Guillain-Barré can be long, but most people recover.

In general, symptoms will get worse for two to four weeks before they stabilize. Recovery can then take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years, but most recover in 6 to 12 months.

About 80 percent of people affected by Guillain-Barré can walk independently at six months, and 60 percent recover their regular muscle strength in one year.

For some, recovery takes longer. Around 30 percent still experience some weakness after three years.

About 3 percent of people affected by Guillain-Barré will experience a relapse of their symptoms, like weakness and tingling, even years after the original event.

In rare cases, the condition can be life-threatening, especially if you don’t get treatment. Factors that may lead to a worse outcome include:

• advanced age
• severe or rapidly progressing illness
• delay of treatment, which can result in more nerve damage
• prolonged use of a respirator, which can predispose you to pneumonia

Blood clots and bedsores that result from being immobilized can be reduced. Blood thinners and compression stockings may minimize clotting.

Frequent repositioning of your body relieves prolonged body pressure that leads to tissue breakdown, or bedsores.

In addition to your physical symptoms, you may experience emotional difficulties. It can be challenging to adjust to limited mobility and an increased dependence on others. You may find it helpful to talk to a therapist. Guillain-Barré Syndrome-Concept Process Assignment.