Guillain-Barré Syndrome, or GBS, is a serious disorder of the nervous system. It occurs when a person’s immune system is not working correctly and attacks the peripheral nervou system. The exact cause unknown, usually occurs after a person has been sick with a virus, such as Zika, the influenza, or Hepatitis. While GBS can affect anyone, males and young adults are at the greatest risk.
Symptoms of Guillain-Barré Syndrome vary from person to person, but often, it starts off with tingling in areas of the legs or weakness. This then leads to weakness and abnormal sensations in both the arms and upper body. While symptoms usually start at the bottom of the body and move up, others experience symptoms starting in the face or arms. Often, the symptoms continue to worsen until muscles become useless, or the person may even become paralyzed. Not only does GBS affect muscle use, it also can lead to issues with vital body functions. These issues include problems with functions such as …show more content…
It is also a difficult thing to diagnose in its early stages because many of the symptoms related to GBS could also relate to an array of other diseases, and the symptoms themselves can vary greatly for each individual case of the disease. First, doctors look at the patient’s medical history to see if there is an indication that he or she might have GBS. Then, in order to verify a diagnosis, the doctor may perform a spinal tap to test for changes that occur in people with GBS. The doctor may also use small needles inserted into muscles to study nerve activity. This is known as electromyography. The last means of diagnosis is through nerve conduction studies. This is similar to electromyography, but the electrode are taped to the patient’s skin, and shocks are used to measure the speed of nerve signals in the patient’s
Symptoms of Guillain-Barré Syndrome vary from person to person, but often, it starts off with tingling in areas of the legs or weakness. This then leads to weakness and abnormal sensations in both the arms and upper body. While symptoms usually start at the bottom of the body and move up, others experience symptoms starting in the face or arms. Often, the symptoms continue to worsen until muscles become useless, or the person may even become paralyzed. Not only does GBS affect muscle use, it also can lead to issues with vital body functions. These issues include problems with functions such as …show more content…
It is also a difficult thing to diagnose in its early stages because many of the symptoms related to GBS could also relate to an array of other diseases, and the symptoms themselves can vary greatly for each individual case of the disease. First, doctors look at the patient’s medical history to see if there is an indication that he or she might have GBS. Then, in order to verify a diagnosis, the doctor may perform a spinal tap to test for changes that occur in people with GBS. The doctor may also use small needles inserted into muscles to study nerve activity. This is known as electromyography. The last means of diagnosis is through nerve conduction studies. This is similar to electromyography, but the electrode are taped to the patient’s skin, and shocks are used to measure the speed of nerve signals in the patient’s