Guillain-Barre Syndrome Symptoms

The first symptoms of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (pronounced Ghee-lan Bar-ray) are usually tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes. These symptoms then progress and cause progressive weakness in the arms and legs during the next few days. In the mildest of cases, the weakness may arrest and cause only moderate difficulty in walking, requiring sticks, crutches or a walking frame.

In some cases the weakness progresses and leads to complete paralysis of the legs, the arms may also be affected. In a quarter of cases the paralysis progresses up the chest and the patient is unable to breathe on his or her own and needs to rely on a mechanical breathing machine (ventilator). The throat and face may be affected making swallowing impossible and so the patient needs to be fed by tube up the nose or directly into the stomach.  Most patients will reach their worst point within two weeks.

The disease can be diagnosed clinically. However two additional tests are usually performed to confirm the diagnosis. A EMG/NCS allows the physician to see how the nerves are working to support the diagnosis. A lumbar puncture allows the physician to rule out other diseases that can mimick GBS.