What is GBS?
GBS is the short form for Guillain-Barre syndrome. GBS is a condition whereby the human immune system moves to attack the nerves. This is a condition that is triggered by an acute viral or bacterial infection.
Symptoms of GBS
To fully understand the symptoms of GBS, a medical diagnosis may be required. At first, the symptoms begin as general weakness. Then there is a tingling in the legs and feet which moves onto the upper parts of the body. GBS can lead to paralysis. There is a wide range of symptoms that can be associated with GBS. This includes:
- Pain in certain areas of the body such as the muscles.
- Problems related to the muscles of the body. This includes muscle weakness, leg and arm weaknesses, coordination problems, and abnormality in walking.
- Problems such as high blood pressure or fatigue in the full body.
- Heart problems such as fast heartbeats or abnormal heart rhythms.
- Speech problems such as impaired voice or difficulty in speaking.
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Dysesthesia
- Facial weakness
- Foot drop
- Urinary retention
- Shortness of breathtaking
- Hyporeflexia
Diagnosis of GBS
Before you talk about the treatment of GBS, it is first to confirm the presence of the condition. This can be verified by carrying out an effective diagnosis. In its initial stages, it can be hard to detect GBS. At first, GBS can exhibit symptoms and signs that are close in characteristics to different neurological disorders. In addition, it is important to note that the presence of the condition can be manifested differently in each patient. To carefully diagnose the presence of the condition, the doctor can begin by asking the patient for their medical history. This can be followed by a thorough physical test. Next, the doctors can recommend other procedures such as nerve conduction studies, electromyography, and spinal tap.
Treatment of GBS
People who have GBS are never cured of the condition. This condition usually does not have any cure. Treatment of GBS involves two main procedures that can be used to reduce the degree of the condition and accelerate recovery. Treatment of the condition can be done in several ways such as:
Immunoglobulin therapy: Treatment of GBS is also possible by way of immunoglobulin therapy through blood transfusion. This is a treatment that is administered intravenously. The patient gets immunoglobulin from blood donors. The immunoglobulin contains healthy antibodies. When extracted from the donors, the blood is transferred to the donors through the vein. Immunoglobulin when administered in high doses will be able to block out the effect of damaging antibodies that can cause the GBS condition.
Plasmapheresis (Plasma exchange): This type of treatment involves subjecting the blood (plasma) to a clinical separation process. This liquid aspect of the blood is taken out of the body. It is then separated from the red blood cells. These blood cells are then returned to the body. It then goes on to reproduce more plasma to compensate for the removed blood. Plasmapheresis is known to work by removing some antibodies from the blood plasma. These antibodies are known to be a part of the causative factors that trigger the attack of the peripheral nerves by the immune system.
About the treatment of GBS
When it comes to the treatment of GBS, Plasmapheresis and immunoglobulin therapies are both effective. They also possess the same level of efficacy. It is no use mixing both treatment methods as they both work as standalone treatments. This means that patients may get improved results when they get one of the two. After treatment, patients will likely need to take medication for:
- Relief from severe pain
- To stop blood clotting which can be developed when the patient is immobile.
Recovery after treatment of GBS
People that have GBS may need physical care and therapy after the treatment. This helps accelerate the process of recovery. The care that they need may include:
- Constant leg and arm movement before the recovery process. This practice is help to keep the muscles strong and flexible.
- Physical therapy at recovery so that the patient will be able to cope with fatigue. This can also help them to regain proper movement and strength.
- Use of adaptive devices for training. This includes braces or a wheelchair to provide self-care and mobility skills.
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