Pediatric Diseases and ConditionsGuillain-Barre Syndrome in
Children Inflammatory and Infectious Neurological Disorders
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a neurological disorder in
which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral
nervous system. The onset can be quite sudden and unexpected.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke (NINDS), the disorder can develop over a few days, or
it may take up to several weeks. A person experiences the
greatest weakness within the first two weeks after symptoms
appear. By the third week, 90 percent of all patients are at the
weakest point in their illness. Although rare, the NINDS says
that GBS afflicts about one person in 100,000. The syndrome can
affect people at any age and both men and women equally. The
disorder usually occurs a few days or weeks after a person has
had symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral
infection. Currently, it is not known why Guillain-Barré strikes
some people. What is known is that the