Thursday, March 17, 2011

Beware Disease Causes Paralysis



Usually this disease stems from a trivial phenomenon. However, without proper treatment, Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) can be fatal, even causing paralysis.

Rediono (35), did not think that he suffered flu-flu is not flu in generally. Actually would consider lightly disease is a symptom of the emergence of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), which leads to paralysis. Originally GBS attack on the father of two children is characterized by flu. But strangely, the flu he suffered never healed.

"I feel weak, sometimes tingling, sore body, and sometimes difficult to move," he said.

After three days of severe fatigue that is felt more and, finally Rediono go to the doctor. Doctors diagnosed that he was tired enough to rest with the drug alone. The next morning, when waking from sleep, Rediono felt weaker body, even though paralyzed. 

Having come back to the hospital, Rediono finally diagnosed with GBS. A rare disease that causes the body to become weak, lose the sensitivity that can usually recover completely within a matter of weeks, months, or years. 
"I had GBS about six months and may return to normal after receiving treatment," he explained.

Guillain barre syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the peripheral nervous system and is usually triggered by an acute infectious process. It is said by a neurologist from Hospital Omni Alam Sutera Tangerang, Daniel Thomas SpS, that GBS is not directly caused by viral infection, but because the antibodies from the body of the molecules of infectious agents, such as viruses and bacteria invade the body ever.

Thus, GBS is not directly due to viral or bacterial infection of the body, but the antibodies from attacking the body's peripheral nerves in the body (Schwann cells, axons) which has the same molecule with the virus is suspected as a virus.

Daniel explains, symptoms of GBS initially in the form of weakness are accompanied numb and tingling from the lower leg that spread to the top as the upper leg, body, arms and face. Usually symmetrical on both sides. Early symptoms can disappear within a few weeks. 

Generally, patients do not feel the need to care or sometimes difficult to explain to the team doctor for further treatment because the symptoms will disappear at the time of inspection. In the next stage, began to emerge such as difficulty getting weaker body that is more similar to the symptoms of paralysis. Even some of the patients with GBS, many thought that before being diagnosed GBS, they experienced a stroke.

In acute cases, GBS can cause difficulty swallowing to breathing.GBS patients may even experience sudden paralysis that allows the impact of death.

"However, not all end up with paralysis of GBS disease, such as when handled from the beginning, then GBS can be overcome. In addition, also depends of the area affected peripheral nerves, "said Daniel.

What is dangerous is when GBS can get on the nerves that work on the breathing muscles, causing paralysis of respiratory muscles and can cause death. The mortality rate of about 5% in case of respiratory paralysis.

GBS arises from the swelling of peripheral nerves resulting in the absence of messages from the brain to make movements that can be accepted by the affected muscle. But besides that, there is a genetic factor that was one reason, because not everyone is easily attacked by GBS. But keep in mind, GBS can be about all ages, especially at a young age (15-35 years) and parents (50-75 years).

"The incidence of approximately 1.2 to 3 per 100,000 population," he said.

Still explained Daniel, GBS can be cured, most patients or approximately 85% of patients with GBS reach a full and functional recovery within 6 to 12 months. Maximum of 18 months .disease Recovery is slower and harder to complete recovery if the person over the age of 50-60 years.

"Keeping clean lifestyle and strengthen the immune system to be more robust against viral and bacterial infections that can trigger the occurrence of GBS is one way to escape from GBS," the message.

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