Synopsis
New Delhi, Jan 25 (NationPress) reports that Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare nerve disorder, has affected 73 people in Pune, posing significant health risks as per health experts. This life-threatening condition is often preceded by viral or bacterial infections.Key Takeaways
- 73 individuals in Pune have GBS.
- 14 patients are on ventilator support.
- GBS can lead to paralysis and respiratory failure.
- Minor infections may trigger GBS symptoms.
- There is no cure for GBS, but management is available.
New Delhi, Jan 25 (NationPress) Guillain-Barre Syndrome -- a rare nerve disorder -- has impacted 73 individuals in Pune, posing a serious threat to life, according to health professionals on Saturday.
GBS frequently follows a bacterial or viral infection that disrupts nerve function. In those suffering from GBS, the immune system erroneously attacks healthy nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, resulting in weakness and, in severe cases, paralysis or even death.
As reported by a state health department official, the total GBS cases have risen to 73, of which 47 are women and 26 are men. Of these, 14 patients are reliant on ventilators.
A 64-year-old woman receiving care at Pimpri's Post Graduate Institute-Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital (YCMH) has tragically lost her life due to an acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) variant of GBS.
Dr. Manjari Tripathi, head of the neurology department at AIIMS, stated, “Guillain-Barre Syndrome is an acute illness that can arise unexpectedly. Patients might have experienced minor infections in the weeks prior. It often follows gastrointestinal infections caused by Campylobacter, which leads to diarrhoea.”
The expert emphasized that any minor viral infection could trigger this condition, usually beginning with loose stools.
“In GBS, paralysis of the nerves starts in the legs and may escalate to respiratory difficulties, necessitating ventilator support,” Tripathi elaborated.
Meanwhile, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) discovered the presence of norovirus and the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni in 21 samples from GBS patients. Both pathogens can induce similar gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, which many of the Pune patients exhibited prior to the onset of GBS.
“Norovirus has been linked to GBS, a rare neurological condition, being responsible for nearly half of all acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks,” stated Dr. Anshu Rohtagi, Senior Neurologist at a local hospital, referencing recent studies. Symptoms typically include gastrointestinal disturbances like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea before GBS manifests. “GBS poses a life-threatening risk for all age demographics, without a particular preference for mothers or children,” Rohtagi added.
There is currently no definitive cure for GBS; however, symptoms like weakness, tingling, or loss of sensation can be managed. Symptoms of GBS may persist for several weeks, and while many individuals achieve a full recovery, some may experience lingering effects.
