Guillain-Barré

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare disorder that causes injury to peripheral nerves. These nerves send messages from the brain to muscles, instructing the muscles to move, but also carry sensations such as pain from the body to the brain. Nerve injury causes muscle weakness, often to the point of paralysis and can cause problems with sensation, including pain, tingling, "goosebumps" or a certain amount of numbness (numbness).
Guillain-Barre syndrome can become a medical emergency weakness to affect the chest muscles responsible for breathing, as when they are paralyzed, patients may die due to lack of oxygen. Individuals with this syndrome should be monitored frequently, usually in a hospital, to ensure that breathing and other vital functions remain effective.
Guillain-Barre syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the myelin sheath which surrounds the long bodies of nerve cells (neurons) as if an insulation around a water pipe . Myelin protects nerve and helps speed the transmission of electrical impulses through the nerve. If this is destroyed, nerve impulses traveling to go very slowly and may even be interrupted. If the muscles do not receive adequate stimulation through the nerves, will not work properly.
Unaware of the causes of the syndrome, but many experts think that the immune system is trying to fight an infectious microorganism (bacteria or virus) and yet harms accidentally nerve tissues.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is rare and is estimated to affect about 100 people a year in Portugal. The reason for the disturbance to reach some people is a mystery. In over two thirds of patients, Guillain-Barre syndrome occurs one to three weeks after a viral disease, including common cold, flu, or infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Epstein-Barr or cytomegalovirus. The trigger factor seems to be most common infectious bacterial infection by Campylobacter jejuni, which often cause intestinal infections. Sometimes, Guillain-Barré seems to follow the immunization, surgery or bone marrow transplantation. The study of the causes of Gulliain-Barré syndrome is a topic of growing clinical research.
Treatment
Most patients with Guillain-Barré is hospitalized, because the disturbance may weaken the chest muscles to such an extent that can lead to severe breathing difficulties. In a hospital, may monitor patients up and put them in a fan if necessary. If Guillain-Barré cause paralysis of the muscles of the leg or arm, the affected person may need help with activities of daily living, such as eating and going to the bathroom. The monitoring of cardiac function and blood pressure and other supportive care (including psychological support, pain management, skin care, prevention of blood clots and physiotherapy) are also important.
Two treatments shown to reduce the severity of Guillain-Barré and speed recovery:
• Plasmapheresis (plasma exchange or) is a process in which blood is removed from the patient and then separated into plasma (the liquid part of blood) and blood cells. After only blood cells are replaced again in the body causing the body to fabricate most plasma offset has been removed. Nobody knows why this treatment works, but most scientists believe that plasmapheresis removes substances that contribute to the immune system attack on the peripheral nerves.
• Infusions immunoglobulin, a mixture of antibodies that are produced naturally by the body's immune system. The high doses of immunoglobulin can result in blocking the antibodies that may have contributed to the disturbance.
These two are considered equally effective types of treatments; the choice of treatment determined by several factors, such as availability of treatment and patient preference. Is chosen, often immunoglobulin infusion because of their ease of administration. Currently under investigation are other treatments for Guillain-Barré syndrome.
After the beginning of restoration, it is likely that patients require therapy to help them to resume adequate force and motion.
Prevention
Given that no one knows what causes Guillain-Barré syndrome, there is no way to avoid it.