Guillain–Barré syndrome facts for kids

Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is a very rare illness that makes your muscles feel weak, especially in your feet and hands. It's also sometimes called Landry's paralysis. Even though it's rare, it's the most common reason why someone might suddenly become paralyzed without having an injury.

What is Guillain–Barré Syndrome?

Guillain–Barré syndrome is a condition where your body's own defense system, called the immune system, mistakenly attacks your nerves. This attack causes damage to the nerves, which then makes your muscles weak. It can even lead to paralysis, meaning you can't move parts of your body.

GBS is quite rare. About 1 to 2 people out of every 100,000 get it each year. This means it doesn't happen very often.

What Causes GBS?

GBS often starts after a person has had an infection. This could be a stomach bug or a respiratory infection, like a cold or flu. One common germ that can trigger GBS is a type of bacteria called Campylobacter jejuni. This bacteria causes about 30% of GBS cases.

When your body fights off an infection, your immune system learns to recognize and attack the germs. But in GBS, the immune system gets confused. It starts to attack healthy nerve cells by mistake.

How Does GBS Affect the Body?

Your nerves are like electrical wires that send messages between your brain and the rest of your body. These messages tell your muscles when to move and help you feel things like touch or pain.

In GBS, the immune system attacks the protective covering around your nerves, called myelin. This is like stripping the insulation off an electrical wire. When the myelin is damaged, the nerve messages can't travel properly. This leads to muscle weakness, tingling, and sometimes pain. The weakness usually starts in the feet and hands and can spread upwards.

Who Discovered GBS?

Guillain–Barré syndrome is named after two French doctors, Georges Guillain and Jean Alexandre Barré. They first described the syndrome in 1916. They worked with another doctor, André Strohl, and together they studied two patients who had similar symptoms of muscle weakness and changes in their spinal fluid.

Georges Guillain later became a professor of neurology in Paris. Their work helped doctors understand this rare condition better.

How is GBS Treated?

People with GBS usually need to stay in a hospital to get special care. There are treatments that can help the immune system stop attacking the nerves. These treatments can also help people recover faster.

Most people with GBS get better over time, but it can take weeks, months, or even longer. Some people might have some lasting weakness or other issues. Physical therapy is often a big part of recovery, helping people regain their strength and movement.

Images for kids

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  Various patterns of how Guillain–Barré syndrome can show up in the body.

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  This is a close-up picture, taken with a special microscope, of Campylobacter jejuni bacteria. This germ can cause about 30% of GBS cases.

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  This image shows how Guillain–Barré syndrome damages nerves.

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  Georges Guillain was one of the doctors who first described Guillain–Barré syndrome in 1916.

See also

In Spanish: Síndrome de Guillain-Barré para niños