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On Sunday, July 9, 2023, the government of Peru officially declared a national health emergency after 90 days of unusual outbreak of several cases of the Guillain Barre syndromethis after the death of four people due to this disease that affects the immune system, protocol of health which has already been applied in 25 regions of the Latin country. In the following paragraphs we will explain what is this condition, what causes ittheir symptoms and how it is treated.
World Health Organization (WHO) defines the Guillain Barre syndrome as a rare condition in which the patient’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, resulting in a loss of control of muscle movements, as well as those that transmit sensations of pain, heat and touch.
Despite the fact that it is a disease Rare, this syndrome can occur in people of any age, although it is much more common in adults and in males.
What causes Guillain-Barré syndrome?
According to information from the Mayo Clinic, the exact nature of the cause of the Guillain Barre syndrome Until now, a disease that usually appears days or weeks after a respiratory or digestive infection; while in remote cases it can also occur after surgery or after having recently received a vaccine. Even this condition can manifest after having had an infection with SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, as well as after being infected with the Zika virus.
Although it is not known for sure what causes he Guillain Barre syndromeif they are known symptoms and are next:
- Weakness or tingling, which usually starts in the legs, with the possibility of spreading to the arms, wrists, feet and face.
- In certain cases there may be paralysis of the legs, arms and facial muscles. In 20% or 30% of cases the chest muscles can be damaged, making breathing difficult.
- Difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
- If the weakness reaches the face and is severe, there may be problems speaking and chewing.
- Double vision or inability to move the eyes.
- Cramp-like pain.
- Low or high blood pressure.
- Accelerated heart rate.
According to the WHO, in most cases, even the most serious, patients with Guillain Barre syndrome they fully recover, although in some of them there is still muscle weakness. However, even in favorable environments, between 3 and 5 percent of patients with this condition die from complications, such as respiratory muscle paralysis, pulmonary thrombosis, or cardiac arrest.
Among the risk factors that may increase the likelihood of developing the Guillain Barre syndromeaccording to the Mayo Clinic, are: having contracted the influenza, Zika or Epstein-Barr virus, having had mycoplasma pneumonia, surgery, having been infected with the Covid-19 virus and having Hodgkin lymphoma, for mention a few.
As far as treatment is concerned, the WHO points out that patients who develop this disease should be hospitalized for monitoring and care. Among the measures applied in these cases are the monitoring of breathing, cardiac activity and blood pressure in order to detect possible arrhythmias, infections, hypertension, hypotension and thrombosis.
In an acute phase, the Guillain Barre syndrome is treated with immunotherapy, such as IVs or immunoglobulins. And if muscle weakness persists, rehabilitation could be ordered to help strengthen muscles and improve body movement in general.
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