brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS)
Symptoms of GBS
Symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome usually begin in both legs, then progress upward to the arms. Occasionally, symptoms begin in the arms or head and progress downward. Symptoms include weakness and a pins-and-needles sensation or loss of sensation. Weakness is more prominent than abnormal sensation. Reflexes are decreased or absent. In 90% of people who have Guillain-Barré syndrome, weakness is most severe 3 to 4 weeks after symptoms start. In 5 to 10%, the muscles that control breathing become so weak that a mechanical ventilator is needed. When the disorder is severe, the facial and swallowing muscles become weak in more than half of affected people. When these muscles are weak, people may choke when they are eating or become dehydrated and malnourished. If the disorder is very severe, internal functions controlled by the Overview of the Autonomic Nervous System may be impaired. For example, blood pressure may fluctuate widely, heart rhythm may become abnormal, people may retain urine, and severe constipation may develop. In a variant called Miller-Fisher syndrome, only a few symptoms develop: Eye movements become paralyzed, walking becomes unsteady, and normal reflexes disappear. 