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Guillain-Barré syndrome
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Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare disease in which the immune system, the defense the body uses to attack whatever invades it, picks the wrong target and goes after the peripheral nerves: the cables that run out of the brain and the spinal cord and reach the arms, the legs and the rest of the body. This often happens after an infection, though it is not always possible to know what set off that mistaken reaction.
Two different things travel along those cables: the orders to move, and sensation, meaning what a person feels. That is why Guillain-Barre can affect both at once. It may stop at weakness or at tingling, that odd prickling in the skin, or in severe cases it can go as far as paralysis and even trouble breathing.
In brief
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare disorder in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, the nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.
It often appears after an infection, although the trigger for this misdirected immune response is not always identified.
It can affect both movement and sensation. Symptoms range from weakness or tingling to paralysis and difficulty breathing in severe cases.
Sources (1)
- World Health OrganizationGuillain–Barré syndromePublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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