Context:

Pune is currently witnessing a sharp rise in cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare but serious neurological disorder, with the number of confirmed cases surpassing 100. It is prompting authorities to take immediate action to investigate and control the situation.

What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)?

• GBS is a serious autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system.
• Symptoms: It starts with weakness, tingling, and numbness in the limbs, which can progress to paralysis. The paralysis can last from 6 to 12 months or even longer.
• Nerve Impact: The syndrome affects nerves responsible for muscle movement, pain, temperature, and touch sensations.
• Demographics: Although more common in adults and males, GBS can occur in individuals of all ages.

Cause of GBS

• The exact cause of GBS is not fully understood, but it is often preceded by an infection (either bacterial or viral), which leads the immune system to mistakenly attack the body’s own nerves.
• Vaccination and Surgery: In rare instances, vaccinations or surgeries might slightly increase the risk of developing GBS, but the risk is generally very low.
• Infection vs. Vaccine Risk: Studies indicate that the risk of GBS from infections (like flu) is higher than the risk from vaccines (such as the flu vaccine).

Treatment for GBS

• Treatment for GBS typically involves procedures like plasmapheresis, which removes the patient's plasma and replaces it with other fluids, aiming to reduce the immune attack on the nerves.