Guillain Barre syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder and some patients who have caught the Corona virus have been found to be suffering from it.
Under Guillain Barre Syndrome, the immune system in attempts to kill the coronavirus, accidently starts attacking the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is a network of nerves that lead from the brain and spinal cord to different parts of the body. Damage of these nerves can affect limb functions and movement. GBS is often developed and detected by an infection. GBS may also be triggered by vaccine administration or surgery.
Several neurologists in Mumbai have come together to have a research over this relation between GBS and COVID-19. It caught attention after more than 24 patients developed paralysis due to GBS. The study is expected to finish in three weeks. The aim of the study is to develop an India-specific database regarding Covid-19 and GBS that will be sent for scientific publication. The study is led by principle investigator Dr Megha Dhamne, neurologist in Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital, Powai.
Patients with SARS-CoV-2-infection and GBS usually experience significant weakness within two weeks after symptoms begin.
Symptoms of GBS include-
- Prickling, pins and needles sensations in your fingers, toes, ankles or wrists
- Weakness in your legs that spreads to your upper body
- Unsteady walking or inability to walk or climb stairs
- Difficulty with facial movements, including speaking, chewing or swallowing
- Double vision or inability to move eyes
- Severe pain that may feel achy, shooting or cramp-like and may be worse at night
- Difficulty with bladder control or bowel function
- Rapid heart rate
- Low or high blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing
The first symptoms that may appear are a tingling or itching sensation in the skin, followed by muscle weakness, pain and numbness. The symptoms may emerge first in feet and hands. A person then starts experiencing reflex loss and paralysis, which may be temporary, but can last for 6-12 months or longer. With Covid-19 a year old, it is still difficult to assess the nature of permanency GBS in such cases may present.
Cause of GBS is unknown but it is believed that it might be triggered due to bacteria or viral infection. People who were infected with Zika, HIV, Herpes virus and Campylobacter jejuni also showed similar symptoms.
Patients affected by COVID-19 are prone to neurological problems. As the virus affects brain tissues and other part of the body, this could trigger an auto-immune response so powerful that the body’s peripheral nervous system can come under attack.
