Disease Conditions

Gullian Barr Syndrome

Introduction:

This disease seems to occur at all seasons. It affects children and adults of all ages and both sexes. It is an acute, autoimmune disease affecting the peripheral nervous system.

Cause:

The exact cause is not known, hence it is also known as 'Acute Idiopathic Polyneuritis' or Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, AIDP

  • Symptoms usually occur after 1-3 weeks of mild respiratory or gastro intestinal infection
  • Normally, the cells of the immune system attack only foreign material, but in Guillain-Barr  syndrome, the immune system destroys the myelin sheath that surrounds the axons of many nerve cells, and sometimes the axons themselves
    When this occurs, the nerves cannot send signals efficiently, the muscles lose their ability to respond to the commands of the brain, and the brain receives less sensory signals from the rest of the body. The result is an inability to feel the sensations
  • Guillain-Barr  syndrome can occur after surgical procedures, viral infection, trauma or after anti rabies inoculation and influenza vaccination

Signs and Symptoms:

  • Weakness which advances over a period of days involves legs which then spread to arms and upper body
  • Tingling, numbness, weakness and loss of sensation begins in feet and legs and then spreads to upper body and arms
  • Difficulty with facial movements, eye movements, speaking and swallowing
  • Numbness
  • Oropharyngeal dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing, drooling)
  • Difficulty in breathing

The symptoms can be life threatening but recovery is possible. Most of the patients need hospitalization and ventilatory assistance.

Complications:

Most complications result from long-term paralysis. Some of the complications could be

  • Persistent paralysis
  • Respiratory failure
  • Hypotension or hypertension
  • Thromboembolism, pneumonia
  • Cardiac Arrthymia
  • Urinary retention
  • Depression and anxiety

Diagnosis:

It is usually made on clinical grounds, considering medical history, signs and symptoms. Laboratory investigations help in differential diagnosis.

  • Lumbar puncture - a special needle is placed into the lower back, into the spinal canal. The pressure in the spinal canal and brain can then be measured. A small amount of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) is removed and sent for testing to determine if there is an infection or other problems.Elevated or rising protein levels support the diagnosis of Gullian Barr syndrome
  • Electro diagnostic tests (i.e., electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity, or NCV) - studies evaluate and diagnose disorders of the muscles and motor neurons

Treatment:

The conventional form of treatment includes plasmaphersis and intravenous immunoglobulins. But the patient needs to be closely observed as the symptoms can go quickly from bad to worse.

Homeopathic Management:

  • Along with other methods of treatment, homeopathic medicines can be safely given to patients with Gullian Barr syndrome. By considering the totality of the symptoms A homeopathic medicine can be prescribed, also considering the mental symptoms of the patient. Homeopathy gives wonderful results in auto immune diseases. It corrects the immune mechanism so that it no more acts in an abnormal way.
  • Constitutional medicines will not only help in treating the disease but also take care of pain, inflammation and once the acute phase is over it will alleviate the anxiety and depression of the patient. It stimulates the body's own healing mechanism.
  • Following the acute phase, the patient has to be rehabilitated to regain lost functions. Physiotherapy should be started to increase muscle flexibility and strength.
  • Homeopathy thus slows down the further progress of disease preventing damage to the nerves and treats the symptoms gently without causing any side-effects.

How Happy Livin will help you:

Dr.Joshi is a leading name in the field of Homeopathy who has around 16 years of experience in treating the patient in the classical way as intended by our Founder of Homeopathy - Dr.Samuel Hahnemann.

There is an attempt to bring the best quality of treatment at your doorstep.

A thorough case-taking is done at your convenience and after careful analysis of the same, the best quality Homeopathic medicines procured from Germany are delivered at your doorstep in a week's time along with certain health tips, dietary instructions to be followed according to the disease condition.