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Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Pediatric

Sharon O. Wietstock, MD, MSc and Brett J. Bordini, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a collection of clinically related disorders characterized by acute-onset monophasic inflammation of the peripheral nervous system. Affected individu...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • GBS has a variety of clinical presentations; a high index of suspicion is critical. Typical features are distal sensory changes followed by progressive motor weakness and areflexia.

  • Co...

TREATMENT

ALERT
  • Respiratory failure necessitating intubation and mechanical ventilation may occur in up to 20% of affected children, may develop quickly, and is of a neuromuscular, rather than obstruct...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Improvement typically begins 2 to 3 weeks after onset of symptoms up to 2 months in some patients.

  • Improvement continues for up to 2 to 3 years.

PATIENT EDUCATION

Pa...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Bordini BJ, Monrad P. Differentiating familial neuropathies from Guillain-Barré syndrome. Pediatr Clin North Am.  2017;64(1):231–252. [View Abstract on OvidInsights]

  • Chevret S, ...

CODES

ICD9

357.0 Acute infective polyneuritis 

ICD10

G61.0 Guillain-Barre syndrome 

SNOMED

40956001 Guillain-Barre syndrome (disorder) 

FAQ

  • Q: Is GBS contagious?

  • A: No.

  • Q: Will I get GBS again?

  • A: Recurrent attacks occur in up to 5% of patients. Treatment-related fluctuations (worsening after completion of immunotherapy) occur in up to 1...

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