Why in news
An outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) has been reported in Pune, with 73 cases so far.
A Union Health Ministry team and Maharashtra's Rapid Response Team have been dispatched to investigate the situation.
What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
GBS is a rare autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks peripheral nerves, causing muscle weakness or paralysis.
It affects people of any age but is more common in adults and males.
The condition is often triggered by viral or bacterial infections, like gastroenteritis from Campylobacter jejuni or viral infections such as flu, Epstein-Barr, or Zika virus.
How does it affect the body?
GBS destroys the myelin sheath around nerves, disrupting signals to the brain and causing muscle weakness.
Initial symptoms include tingling, weakness in legs, back pain, difficulty walking, facial movements, and double vision.
Severe cases can lead to paralysis, difficulty breathing, swallowing, and heart rate or blood pressure problems, potentially life-threatening.
Treatment and Recovery
There is no cure for GBS, but treatments like plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy can aid recovery.
Plasma exchange removes harmful antibodies from the blood, and immunoglobulin therapy helps decrease immune system attacks on nerves.
Recovery can take time, with some people needing physical and occupational therapy.
Intensive care may be required for severe cases.
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