India's first Guillain-Barre Syndrome death reported in Maharashtra—what’s causing the outbreak, who’s at risk. Read on to know more
India reported its first death due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome after a man from Solapur district of Maharashtra succumbed to the condition on January 27. A 40-year-old man suspected of contracting Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) died in Maharashtra's Solapur district. He had visited Pune, where officials believe he may have contracted the disease, reported Reuters.
So far, 101 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome have been reported, with 81 patients from Pune MC, 14 from Pimpri Chinchwad MC, and 6 from other districts, according to ANI.
According to the World Health Organization(WHO), Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder in which a person’s immune system attacks their peripheral nerves. This leads to muscle weakness that can progress to paralysis. While GBS can develop over a few days or several weeks, it affects people of all ages but it is more common in adults and males.
The cause of GBS is still not fully understood, however, it occurs after a viral or bacterial infection. Infection with the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni, which causes gastroenteritis (including symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea), is one of the most common triggers.
Other triggers include cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and the Zika virus. In rare cases, vaccinations may increase the risk of contracting GBS, although this is extremely uncommon, says WHO.
According to Reuters, in some affected areas of Pune, drainage water gets mixed with potable water due to water lines and drainage lines running side by side, leading to contamination and contributing to the spike in GBS cases. Considering the current situation, Maharashtra's health authorities have issued an advisory asking citizens to drink boiled water and follow other precautionary measures.
In autoimmune conditions like GBS, the body’s immune system starts attacking its own cells. As per the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, in GBS, the immune system damages the myelin sheath which is a fatty layer wrapped around nerve cells. This impairs the nerves’ ability to send signals to the brain, resulting in muscle weakness and in severe cases, paralysis.
GBS primarily affects the peripheral nervous system which controls the movement of muscles, temperature, touch and pain sensations. This can result in a wide range of symptoms including difficulty walking, numbness, tingling and even respiratory failure in severe cases.
Autoimmune diseases are not communicable, however, the causative infection usually spreads, reported Reuters.
As per National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, currently, there is no known cure for GBS. However, effective therapies can reduce the severity of the disease and speed up recovery. Most people with GBS have a full recovery. A few may be left with remaining muscle weakness.
The treatments primarily include plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobin therapy. Plasma exchange or plasmapheresis involves removing the plasma (liquid part of the blood), treating it, and then returning it to the body. This removes the antibodies from the plasma that are attacking the nerves. Intravenous immunoglobin therapy involves injecting the body with immunoglobins, which are proteins that the body makes to identify and neutralise infecting organisms. This helps decrease the immune system’s attack on the nervous system.
Supportive treatment is also given and rehabilitation including physical and occupational therapy may be required. Recovery can take a long time.
According to WHO, Guillain-Barre syndrome is potentially life-threatening. People with Guillain-Barre syndrome should be treated and monitored as quickly as possible and some may need intensive care. If you experience sudden muscle that get worse over some days, see a doctor immediately.