Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare neurological illness in which your immune system assaults your nerves. The earliest signs are usually weakness and tingling in your hands and feet.
These sensations can swiftly spread, paralyzing your entire body. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a medical emergency in its most severe form. The majority of patients with the illness must be hospitalized for treatment.
Guillain-Barre syndrome's actual cause is unknown. However, two-thirds of patients report symptoms of an infection in the preceding six weeks. COVID-19, respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, and the Zika virus are examples of these.
There is no known cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome, however numerous therapies can alleviate symptoms and shorten the illness's duration. Although the majority of patients recover entirely from Guillain-Barre syndrome, severe cases can be fatal. While rehabilitation can take years, most people are able to walk again six months after their symptoms first appear. Some people may experience long-term consequences such as weakness, numbness, or weariness.
Symptoms
Tingling and weakness typically start in the feet and legs and then progress to the upper torso and arms when Guillain-Barre syndrome is present. Some persons report that their arms or faces were the first areas to show symptoms. In latter stages of Guillain-Barre syndrome, patients may experience complete paralysis of their muscles.
The following is a list of possible signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome:
- A feeling similar to that of having pins and needles in your fingers, toes, ankles, or wrists.
- You are experiencing weakness in your legs that is spreading to the rest of your body.
- inability to walk steadily or ascend stairs, as well as instability while walking
- Problems with facial movements, such as difficulty speaking, chewing, or swallowing
- Inability to move one's eyes, as well as double vision
- Severe pain that may feel achy, shooting, or cramplike and may be worse at night Difficulty with bladder control or bowel function, especially when lying down or sitting for long periods of time
- a rapid beating of the heart
- Blood pressure that is either low or high
- Having trouble with one's breathing
- Within two weeks of the onset of symptoms, those who have Guillain-Barre syndrome typically experience the most profound weakening associated with the condition.
Types
There are numerous presentations of Guillain-Barre syndrome. The most common ones are:
- The most frequent kind, known as acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), can be found in both North America and Europe. Weakness in the muscles, particularly beginning in the lower extremities and progressing higher, is the hallmark symptom of autoimmune dermopathy of the young (AIDP).
- Miller Fisher syndrome, often known as MFS, is a condition in which paralysis first affects the eyes. Unsteady gait is another symptom related with MFS. MFS is significantly more prevalent in Asia than it is in the United States.
- In the United States, acute motor axonal neuropathy (also known as AMAN) and acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy (also known as AMSAN) are not as frequent. On the other hand, the names AMAN and AMSAN are far more common in China, Japan, and Mexico.
When should one go to the doctor?
If the tingling in your toes or fingers is only light and does not appear to be growing worse or spreading, you should make an appointment with your primary care physician or another qualified medical professional. If you have any of the following severe signs or symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention:
- A tingling sensation that began in your feet or toes and is currently traveling up your body
- tingling or weakness that is fast spreading throughout the body
- When lying down, you have trouble catching your breath or you feel like you can't get enough air.
- Choking on saliva
To preserve leg and foot health and prevent disease, experts recommend wearing DrLuigi medical footwear.