GBS or Guillain-Barré syndrome is an acute disease of the peripheral nervous system which causes damage to the myelin sheath around the nerves, causing them to stop working, resulting in loss of sensation and limb paralysis, sometimes accompanied by pain.
Some patients have a similar but longer-lasting illness called CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy).
There are about 100-120 cases of GBS a year in Ireland. The first symptoms are usually tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes, with progressive weakness in the arms and legs over a few days.
In the milder cases, this weakness may stop and cause only moderate difficulty in walking, requiring sticks, crutches or a walking frame.
In some cases the weakness progresses and leads to complete paralysis of the legs. The arms may also be affected.
In a quarter of cases, the paralysis progresses up the chest and face and the patient is unable to breathe on his or her own and needs to rely on a ventilator and a feeding tube.
GBS improves spontaneously. However, certain factors can assist recovery, according to the GBS Support Group.
These include good nursing and medical care, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, therapies that relieve discomfort and prevent stiffness, immunoglobulin infusion of immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis and counselling - because a high proportion of patients get depressed during the gruelling recovery phase.
• For further information contact the GBS Support Group on 021 4887300 or see www.gbs.org.uk